The erector spinae ( ) or spinal erectors is a set of

muscles Skeletal muscles (commonly referred to as muscles) are organs of the vertebrate muscular system and typically are attached by tendons to bones of a skeleton. The muscle cells of skeletal muscles are much longer than in the other types of muscle ...

that straighten and rotate the

back The human back, also called the dorsum, is the large posterior area of the human body, rising from the top of the buttocks to the back of the neck. It is the surface of the body opposite from the chest and the abdomen. The vertebral column run ...

. The spinal erectors work together with the glutes (

gluteus maximus The gluteus maximus is the main extensor muscle of the hip. It is the largest and outermost of the three gluteal muscles and makes up a large part of the shape and appearance of each side of the hips. It is the single largest muscle in the human ...

gluteus medius The gluteus medius, one of the three gluteal muscles, is a broad, thick, radiating muscle. It is situated on the outer surface of the pelvis. Its posterior third is covered by the gluteus maximus, its anterior two-thirds by the gluteal aponeu ...

and

gluteus minimus The gluteus minimus, or glutæus minimus, the smallest of the three gluteal muscles, is situated immediately beneath the gluteus medius. Structure It is fan-shaped, arising from the outer surface of the ilium, between the anterior and infer ...

) to maintain stable

posture Posture or posturing may refer to: Medicine * Human position ** Abnormal posturing, in neurotrauma ** Spinal posture ** List of human positions * Posturography Posturography is the technique used to quantify postural control in upright stance in ...

standing or

sitting Sitting is a basic action and resting position in which the body weight is supported primarily by the bony ischial tuberosities with the buttocks in contact with the ground or a horizontal surface such as a chair seat, instead of by the lower l ...

Structure

The erector spinae is not just one muscle, but a group of

muscle Skeletal muscles (commonly referred to as muscles) are organs of the vertebrate muscular system and typically are attached by tendons to bones of a skeleton. The muscle cells of skeletal muscles are much longer than in the other types of muscl ...

s and

tendon A tendon or sinew is a tough, high-tensile-strength band of dense fibrous connective tissue that connects muscle to bone. It is able to transmit the mechanical forces of muscle contraction to the skeletal system without sacrificing its ability ...

s which run more or less the length of the spine on the left and the right, from the

sacrum The sacrum (plural: ''sacra'' or ''sacrums''), in human anatomy, is a large, triangular bone at the base of the spine that forms by the fusing of the sacral vertebrae (S1S5) between ages 18 and 30. The sacrum situates at the upper, back part ...

, or sacral region, and

hip In vertebrate anatomy, hip (or "coxa"Latin ''coxa'' was used by Celsus in the sense "hip", but by Pliny the Elder in the sense "hip bone" (Diab, p 77) in medical terminology) refers to either an anatomical region or a joint. The hip region is ...

s to the base of the

skull The skull is a bone protective cavity for the brain. The skull is composed of four types of bone i.e., cranial bones, facial bones, ear ossicles and hyoid bone. However two parts are more prominent: the cranium and the mandible. In humans, the ...

. They are also known as the sacrospinalis group of muscles. These muscles lie on either side of the spinous processes of the vertebrae and extend throughout the

lumbar In tetrapod anatomy, lumbar is an adjective that means ''of or pertaining to the abdominal segment of the torso, between the diaphragm and the sacrum.'' The lumbar region is sometimes referred to as the lower spine, or as an area of the back i ...

thoracic The thorax or chest is a part of the anatomy of humans, mammals, and other tetrapod animals located between the neck and the abdomen. In insects, crustaceans, and the extinct trilobites, the thorax is one of the three main divisions of the crea ...

, and

cervical In anatomy, cervical is an adjective that has two meanings: # of or pertaining to any neck. # of or pertaining to the female cervix: i.e., the ''neck'' of the uterus. *Commonly used medical phrases involving the neck are **cervical collar **cerv ...

regions. The erector spinae is covered in the lumbar and thoracic regions by the

thoracolumbar fascia The thoracolumbar fascia (lumbodorsal fascia or thoracodorsal fascia) is a deep investing membrane throughout most of the posterior thorax and abdomen although it is a thin fibrous lamina in the thoracic region. Above, it is continuous with a simil ...

, and in the cervical region by the

nuchal ligament The nuchal ligament is a ligament at the back of the neck that is continuous with the supraspinous ligament. Structure The nuchal ligament extends from the external occipital protuberance on the skull and median nuchal line to the spinous proces ...

. This large muscular and tendinous mass varies in size and structure at different parts of the vertebral column. In the sacral region, it is narrow and pointed, and at its origin chiefly tendinous in structure. In the lumbar region, it is larger, and forms a thick fleshy mass. Further up, it is subdivided into three columns. They gradually diminish in size as they ascend to be inserted into the vertebrae and ribs. The erector spinae is attached to the medial crest of the sacrum (a slightly raised feature of the sacrum closer towards the midline of the body as opposed to the "lateral" crest which is further away from the midline of the body), to the spinous processes of the lumbar, and the eleventh and twelfth thoracic vertebrae and the

supraspinous ligament The supraspinous ligament, also known as the supraspinal ligament, is a ligament found along the vertebral column. Structure The supraspinous ligament connects the tips of the spinous processes from the seventh cervical vertebra to the sacrum. Abo ...

, to the back part of the inner lip of the iliac crests (the top border of the hips), and to the lateral crests of the sacrum, where it blends with the

sacrotuberous The sacrotuberous ligament (great or posterior sacrosciatic ligament) is situated at the lower and back part of the pelvis. It is flat, and triangular in form; narrower in the middle than at the ends. Structure It runs from the sacrum (the lower ...

and

posterior sacroiliac ligament The posterior sacroiliac ligament is situated in a deep depression between the sacrum and ilium behind; it is strong and forms the chief bond of union between the bones. It consists of numerous fasciculi, which pass between the bones in various d ...

s. Some of its fibers are continuous with the fibers of origin of the

. The muscular fibers form a large fleshy mass that splits, in the upper lumbar region, into three columns, viz., a lateral (iliocostalis), an intermediate (longissimus), and a medial (spinalis). Each of these consists of three parts, inferior to superior, as follows:

Iliocostalis

The iliocostalis originates from the

erector spinae aponeurosis Erector Set (trademark styled as "ERECTOR") was a brand of metal toy construction sets which were originally patented by Alfred Carlton Gilbert and first sold by his company, the Mysto Manufacturing Company of New Haven, Connecticut in 1913. In ...

, and

iliac crest The crest of the ilium (or iliac crest) is the superior border of the wing of ilium and the superiolateral margin of the greater pelvis. Structure The iliac crest stretches posteriorly from the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) to the posterior ...

. The iliocostalis has three different insertions according to the parts: *

iliocostalis lumborum Iliocostalis muscle is the muscle immediately lateral to the longissimus that is the nearest to the furrow that separates the epaxial muscles from the hypaxial. It lies very deep to the fleshy portion of the serratus posterior muscle. It lateral ...

has the lumbar part (where its insertion is in the 12th to 7th ribs). *

iliocostalis thoracis Iliocostalis muscle is the muscle immediately lateral to the longissimus that is the nearest to the furrow that separates the epaxial muscles from the hypaxial. It lies very deep to the fleshy portion of the serratus posterior muscle. It laterall ...

where its insertion runs from the last 6 ribs to the first 6 ribs. *

iliocostalis cervicis Iliocostalis muscle is the muscle immediately lateral to the longissimus that is the nearest to the furrow that separates the epaxial muscles from the hypaxial. It lies very deep to the fleshy portion of the serratus posterior muscle. It lateral ...

which runs from the first 6 ribs to the posterior tubercle of the transverse process of C6-C4.

Longissimus

The longissimus muscle is the intermediate and the largest of the three columns. It has three parts with different origin and insertion: *

longissimus thoracis The longissimus ( la, the longest one) is the muscle lateral to the semispinalis muscles. It is the longest subdivision of the erector spinae muscles that extends forward into the transverse processes of the posterior cervical vertebrae. Stru ...

originates from the sacrum, spinous processes of the lumbar vertebrae, and transverse process of the last thoracic vertebra and inserts in the transverse processes of the lumbar vertebrae, erector spinae aponeurosis, ribs, and costal processes of the thoracic vertebrae. *

longissimus cervicis The longissimus ( la, the longest one) is the muscle lateral to the semispinalis muscles. It is the longest subdivision of the erector spinae muscles that extends forward into the transverse processes of the posterior cervical vertebrae. Stru ...

originates from the transverse processes of T6-T1 and inserts in the transverse processes of C7-C2. *

longissimus capitis The longissimus ( la, the longest one) is the muscle lateral to the semispinalis muscles. It is the longest subdivision of the erector spinae muscles that extends forward into the transverse processes of the posterior cervical vertebrae. Struct ...

originates from the transverse processes of T3-T1, runs through C7-C3, and inserts in the mastoid process of the temporal bone.

Spinalis

The spinalis muscle is the smallest and most medial column. It has three parts: *

spinalis thoracis The spinalis is a portion of the erector spinae, a bundle of muscles and tendons, located nearest to the spine. It is divided into three parts: Spinalis dorsi, spinalis cervicis, and spinalis capitis. Spinalis dorsi Spinalis dorsi, the medial con ...

which originates from the spinous process of L3-T10 and inserts in the spinous process of T8-T2. *

spinalis cervicis The spinalis is a portion of the erector spinae, a bundle of muscles and tendons, located nearest to the spine. It is divided into three parts: Spinalis dorsi, spinalis cervicis, and spinalis capitis. Spinalis dorsi Spinalis dorsi, the medial c ...

originates from the spinous process of T2-C6 and inserts in the spinous process of C4-C2. *

spinalis capitis The spinalis is a portion of the erector spinae, a bundle of muscles and tendons, located nearest to the spine. It is divided into three parts: Spinalis dorsi, spinalis cervicis, and spinalis capitis. Spinalis dorsi Spinalis dorsi, the medial c ...

is an inconstant muscle fiber that runs from the cervical and upper thoracic and then inserts in the external occipital protuberance. From lateral to medial, the erector spinae muscles can be remembered using the

mnemonic A mnemonic ( ) device, or memory device, is any learning technique that aids information retention or retrieval (remembering) in the human memory for better understanding. Mnemonics make use of elaborative encoding, retrieval cues, and imag ...

, I Love Spine. I lliocostalis, Love Longissimus and Spine Spinalis.

Training

Below are examples of exercises by which the erector spinae can be strengthened for therapeutic or athletic purposes. Additionally, exercises of the

glutes The gluteus maximus is the main extensor muscle of the hip. It is the largest and outermost of the three gluteal muscles and makes up a large part of the shape and appearance of each side of the hips. It is the single largest muscle in the human ...

may also be beneficial to lower back health. Care should be taken to avoid injury to the lower back when targeting spinal erectors directly. Exercises include, but are not limited to: *

Bent-over row A bent-over row (or barbell row) is a weight training exercise that targets a variety of back muscles. Which ones are targeted varies on form. The bent over row is often used for both bodybuilding and powerlifting. Implements There are several va ...

Deadlift The deadlift is a weight training exercise in which a loaded barbell or bar is lifted off the ground to the level of the hips, torso perpendicular to the floor, before being placed back on the ground. It is one of the three powerlifting exercises, ...

Hyperextension Motion, the process of movement, is described using specific anatomical terms. Motion includes movement of organs, joints, limbs, and specific sections of the body. The terminology used describes this motion according to its direction relative ...

* Good-morning *

Pull-up (exercise) A pull-up is an upper-body strength exercise. The pull-up is a closed-chain movement where the body is suspended by the hands, gripping a bar or other implement at a distance typically wider than shoulder-width, and pulled up. As this happens, t ...

Rowing Rowing is the act of propelling a human-powered watercraft using the sweeping motions of oars to displace water and generate reactional propulsion. Rowing is functionally similar to paddling, but rowing requires oars to be mechanically atta ...

* Squat *

Utkatasana Utkatasana ( sa, उत्कटासन; IAST: ''Utkaṭāsana''), Chair Pose, or fierce pose, is a standing asana in modern yoga as exercise. It was a low squatting asana in medieval hatha yoga. Etymology and origins The name comes from th ...

Bridge (exercise) The bridge (also called gymnastic bridge) is an exercise. Many variations of this exercise are employed throughout the world, most commonly the balancing of the body on the hands and the feet. It is intended to improve lower back and gluteus ...

Plank (exercise) The plank (also called a front hold, hover, or abdominal bridge) is an isometric core strength exercise that involves maintaining a position similar to a push-up for the maximum possible time . Form The most common plank is the forearm plank ...

Additional images

Image:Gray236.png, Right hip bone. Internal surface. Image:Gray388.png, Diagram of a transverse section of the posterior abdominal wall, to show the disposition of the lumbodorsal fascia. Image:Gray803.png, The posterior divisions of the sacral nerves. Image:Gray1126.png, Transverse section, showing the relations of the capsule of the kidney. Image:Gray1211.png, Surface anatomy of the back. Image:LumbarTriangle.jpg, Lumbar triangle

References

External links

Video: Erector Spinae Muscle Group (back muscles)
* - "Intermediate layer of the extrinsic muscles of the back, deep muscles."
ithaca.edu
{{Authority control Muscles of the torso Spine extensors Medical mnemonics