Levator Scapulae

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

Figure 1: Hypoglossal nerve, cervical plexus, and their respective branches¹

Figure 2: Muscles of the Posterior and lateral neck²

Figure 3: Muscles of the Neck and Back²

Reading list

• Trigger Points
  • Ch19 lev scap Muscle³
  • Lev scap⁴
• MMT⁵

Muscle	Origin	Insertion	Innervation	Action
Levator scapulae	C1-C4 TP	Superior angle of Scapula	Dorsal scapular n. Cervical spinal nn. C3 - C4	Scapula: Elevation, Downward rotation Cervical: I/L sidebend

Overview

The levator scapulae is a long and slender muscle. Although the levator scapulae is geographically associated with the muscles of the back, it is functionally more similar to the scapular muscles such as the rhomboid major, minor, and serratus anterior⁶.

Origin

TP C1-C4⁷

Insertion

Superior angle of the scapula⁷

Figure 4: Left scapula (Posterior view)¹

Innervation

• Dorsal Scapular N.⁷
• Cervical Spinal nn.⁷
• (C4, C5)⁷

Action

• STJ: Elevates and downwardly rotates scapula⁷
• C/S: Extends and I/L lateral flexion⁷

The levator scapula coactivates with the scapulothoracic upward rotators to counter eachother’s frontal plane rotation and to result in pure elevation⁶.

Notes

Paralysis

Paralysis of the levator scapulae will result in a sagging shoulder girdle⁶.

References

1.

Gray H. Anatomy of the Human Body. 20th ed. (Lewis WH, ed.). Lea & Febiger; 1918. https://www.bartleby.com/107/

2.

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

3.

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

4.

Finando D, Finando SJ, Finando D. Trigger Point Therapy for Myofascial Pain: The Practice of Informed Touch. Healing Arts Press; 2005.

5.

Weinstock D. NeuroKinetic Therapy: An Innovative Approach to Manual Muscle Testing. North Atlantic Books; 2010.

6.

Jones B. B Project Foundations. b Project; 2025.

7.

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