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Multifidus Muscle

Multifidus Muscle

Author: Scott A. Sheffield MS

Last update: Dec 13th, 2022

The multifidus muscle is one of the deep back muscles and part of the erector spinae group.

Multifidus:

Unlabelled image of the muscles of the back.

Labelled image of the semispinalis capitis, longissimus capitis, spinalis cervicis, longissimus cervicis, longissimus thoracis, spinalis thoracis, and multifidus muscles

Labelled image of the semispinalis capitis, spinalis cervicis, spinalis thoracis, and multifidus muscles

Labelled image of the semispinalis capitis, semispinalis thoracis, and multifidus muscles

Labelled image of the multifidus muscle.

Musculus multifidus

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Attachments of Multifidus: Origin & Insertion

Origin: Posterior sacrum (next to foramina); superior iliac spine, mammillary processes of lumbar vertebrae, transverse processes of thoracic vertebrae, and articular processes of C4-C7.

Insertion: Spinous processes of vertebrae (except C1), 2-4 bones above origin.

Unlabelled image of the muscles of the back.

Insertion and origin of the multifidus muscle.

Insertion and origin of the multifidus muscle.

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Actions of the Multifidus Muscle:

Bilateral action: extends vertebrae (except C1), 2-4 bones above origin.

Extensions of the vertebral column animation slide 4

Extensions of the vertebral column animation slide 3

Extensions of the vertebral column animation slide 2

Extensions of the vertebral column animation slide 1

Extension of vertebrae.

Unilateral action: laterally flexes and contralaterally rotates vertebral column.

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Lateral flexion of the vertebral column animation slide 1

Lateral flexion of the vertebral column animation slide 2

Lateral flexion of the vertebral column animation slide 3

Lateral flexion of the vertebral column animation slide 4

Lateral flexion of the vertebral column animation slide 5

Lateral flexion of the vertebral column.

Contralateral rotation of the vertebral column animation slide 1

contralateral rotation of the vertebral column animation slide 2

Contralateral rotation of the vertebral column animation slide 3

Contralateral rotation of the vertebral column animation slide 4

Contralateral rotation of the vertebral column animation slide 5

Contralateral rotation of the vertebral column.

Nerve Supply to Multifidus:

dorsal rami of spinal nerves.

Overview of the Muscles of the Back:

Test yourself image answers hidden.

Test yourself image showing answers: trapezius, deltoid, latissimus dorsi

Test yourself image showing answers: supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, teres major

Test yourself image showing answers: levetor scapula, rhomboids minor, rhomboids major, serratus anterior

Test yourself image showing answers: serratus anterior superior, serratus posterior inferior

Test yourself image showing answers: sternocleidomastoid, splenius capitis, splenius cervicis, iliocostalis cervicis, iliocostalis thoracis, external intercostals, longissimus thoracis, spinalis thoracis, iliocostalis lumborum

Test yourself image showing answers: semispinalis capitis, splenius capitis, splenius cervicis, iliocostalis cervicis, iliocostalis thoracis, longissimus thoracis, spinalis thoracis, iliocostalis lumborum

Test yourself image showing answers: Semispinalis capitis, longissimus capitis, spinalis cervicis, longissimus cervicis, longissimus thoracis, spinalis thoracis, multifidus

Test yourself image showing answers: semispinalis capitis, spinalis cervicis, spinalis thoracis, multifidus

Test yourself image showing answers: Semispinalis capitis, semispinalis thoracis, multifidus

Test yourself image showing answers: multifidus

Test yourself image showing answers: origin, insertion

Review the muscles of the back and test yourself.

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