Vertebral Muscle Types | Location |
Forward flexors | Anterior |
Lateral flexors | Lateral |
Rotators | Lateral |
Extensors | Posterior |

The Posterior Cervical and Upper Thoracic Spinal Muscles
- Semispinalis Capitus – controls the head rotation and backward pulls
- Iliocostalis Cervicis – extends the cervical vertebrae
- The Longissimus Cervicus – extends the cervical vertebrae
- Longissimus Capitus – controls the head’s rotation and backward pulls
- Longissimus Thoracis – controls the extension/lateral flexion of the vertebral column and rib rotation
- Iliocostalis Thoracis – controls the extension/lateral flexion of the vertebral column and rib rotation
- Semispinalis Thoracis – extends and rotates the vertebral column

Muscles of the Spinal Column
Cervical muscles
Cervical Muscles | Function | Nerve |
Sternocleidomastoid | Extends and rotates the head and flexes the vertebral column | C2, C3 |
Scalenus | Flexes and rotates the neck | Lower cervical |
Spinalis Cervicis | Extends and rotates the head | Middle/lower cervical |
Spinalis Capitus | Extends and rotates the head | Middle/lower cervical |
Semispinalis Cervicis | Extends and rotates the vertebral column | Middle/lower cervical |
Semispinalis Capitus | Rotates the head and pulls backward | C1-C5 |
Splenius Cervicis | Extends the vertebral column | Middle/lower cervical |
Longus Colli Cervicis | Flexes the cervical vertebrae | C2-C7 |
Longus Capitus | Flexes the head | C1-C3 |
Rectus Capitus Anterior | Flexes the head | C2, C3 |
Rectus Capitus Lateralis | Bends the head laterally | C2, C3 |
Iliocostalis Cervicis | Extends the cervical vertebrae | Middle/lower cervical |
Longissimus Cervicis | Extends the cervical vertebrae | Middle/lower cervical |
Longissimus Capitus | Rotates the head and pulls backward | Middle/lower cervical |
Rectus Capitus Posterior Major | Extends and rotates the head | Suboccipital |
Rectus Capitus Posterior Minor | Extends the head | Suboccipital |
Obliquus Capitus Inferior | Rotates the atlas | Suboccipital |
Obliquus Capitus Superior | Extends and bends the head laterally | Suboccipital |

Thoracic Muscles
Thoracic muscles | Function | Nerve |
Longissimus Thoracis | Extension, lateral flexion of the vertebral column, and rib rotation | Dorsal primary divisions of the spinal nerves |
Iliocostalis Thoracis | Extension, lateral flexion of the vertebral column, and rib rotation | Dorsal primary divisions of the spinal nerves |
Spinalis Thoracis | Extends the vertebral column | Dorsal primary divisions of the spinal nerves |
Semispinalis Thoracis | Extends and rotates the vertebral column | Dorsal primary divisions of the spinal nerves |
Rotatores Thoracis | Extends and rotates the vertebral column | Dorsal primary divisions of the spinal nerves |

Lumbar muscles
Lumbar muscles | Function | Nerve |
Psoas Major | Flexes the thigh at the hip joint and the vertebral column | L2, L3, sometimes L1 or L4 |
Intertransversarii Lateralis | Lateral flexion of the vertebral column | The ventral primary division of the spinal nerves |
Quadratus Lumborum | Lateral flexion of the vertebral column | T12, L1 |
Interspinales | Extends the vertebral column | Dorsal primary divisions of the spinal nerves |
Intertransversarii Mediales | Lateral flexion of the vertebral column | Dorsal primary divisions of the spinal nerves |
Multifidus | Extends and rotates the vertebral column | Dorsal primary divisions of the spinal nerves |
Longissimus Lumborum | Extends and rotates the vertebral column | Dorsal primary divisions of the spinal nerves |
Iliocostalis Lumborum | Extension, lateral flexion of the vertebral column, and rib rotation | Dorsal primary divisions of the spinal nerves |

Muscle Fascia Fibrous Tissue
- Fascia is the thickened connective tissue that surrounds a muscle or muscle group. Superficial fascia is directly under the skin.
- Epimysium surrounds the skeletal muscle.
- Perimysium is the sheath that groups the muscle fibers into bundles.
- Endomysium is another type of connective tissue that sheaths each muscle fiber.