Longissimus Muscle

Authors

Affiliations

Nate Yomogida, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.S. in Kinesiology

Chloë Kerstein, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.A. in Neuroscience

Reading list

• Ch16 Longissimus capitis Muscle¹
• Thoracolumbar paraspinal muscles¹
• Neuman²

Table 1: Longissimus muscles

Muscle	Origin	Insertion	Innervation	Action
Longissimus capitis	T1-T3 TP C4-C7 TP & articular process	Mastoid process	Spinal nn. Posterior rami (lateral br.) C1 - C5	Bilateral: Head extension Unilateral: Ipsilateral head sidebend, Ipsilateral rotation
Longissimus cervicis	T1-T6 TP	C2-C5 TP	Spinal nn. Posterior rami (lateral br.) C1 - C5	Bilateral: Extends spine Unilateral: Ipsilateral spine sidebend
Longissimus thoracis	Sacrum Iliac crest Lumbar vertebrae SP Lower thoracic TP	2-12 Ribs Thoracic TP Lumbar TP	Spinal nn. Posterior rami (lateral br.) C1 - C5	Bilateral: Extends spine Unilateral: Ipsilateral spine sidebend

Longissimus Capitis

Figure 1: Muscles of the Posterior and lateral neck³

Figure 2: Muscles of the Neck and Back³

Origin

T1-T3 (TP), C4-C7 (TP & articular process)⁴

Insertion

Temporal bone (Mastoid process)

Innervation

Spinal nn. C1-L5 (Posterior Rami, lateral branches)⁴

Action

• BIL: Extends head⁴
• UNIL: Flexes and I/L rotation⁴

Longissimus Cervicis

Figure 3: Muscles of the Neck and Back³

Origin

T1-T6 (TP)⁴

Insertion

C2-C5 (TP)⁴

Innervation

Spinal nn. C1-L5 (Posterior Rami, lateral branches)⁴

Action

• BIL: Extends spine⁴
• UNIL: I/L SB⁴

Longissimus Thoracis

Origin

Sacrum; Iliac crest; Lumbar vertebrae (SP); Lower thoracic vertebrae (TP)⁴

Insertion

2nd-12th ribs; Thoracic & Lumbar vertebrae (TP)⁴

Innervation

Spinal nn. C1-L5 (Posterior Rami, lateral branches)⁴

Action

• BIL: Extends spine⁴
• UNIL: I/L SB⁴

References

1.

Donnelly JM, Simons DG, eds. Travell, Simons & Simons’ Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual. Third edition. Wolters Kluwer Health; 2019.

2.

Neumann DA, Kelly ER, Kiefer CL, Martens K, Grosz CM. Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System: Foundations for Rehabilitation. 3rd ed. Elsevier; 2017.

3.

Betts JG, Blaker W. Anatomy and Physiology. 2nd ed. OpenStax; 2022. https://openstax.org/details/books/anatomy-and-physiology-2e/?Book%20details

4.

Gilroy AM, MacPherson BR, Wikenheiser JC, Voll MM, Wesker K, Schünke M, eds. Atlas of Anatomy. 4th ed. Thieme; 2020.