Intertransversarii muscle group

Last revised by Reabal Najjar on 7 Jan 2023

The intertransversarii muscles are small and short muscles found in the deepest layer of the intrinsic back muscles extending between the transverse processes of adjacent cervical and lumbar vertebrae. The cervical intertransversarii are subdivided into seven pairs of anterior and posterior muscles while the lumbar intertransversarii are subdivided into four pairs of medial and lateral muscles.

Summary

Cervical intertransversarii
  • origin: transverse processes of cervical vertebrae (C1 - T1)

  • insertion: transverse processes of adjacent cervical vertebrae (C1 - T1)

  • action: lateral flexion and stabilization of the cervical spine

  • blood supply: vertebral, deep cervical, ascending cervical, and occipital arteries

  • innervation: anterior and posterior rami of cervical spinal nerves

Lumbar intertransversarii
  • origin: transverse and accessory processes of contiguous lumbar vertebrae (L1 - L4)

  • insertion: mammillary and transverse processes of contiguous lumbar vertebrae (L1 - L4)

  • action: lateral flexion and stabilization of the lumbar spine

  • blood supply: branches of lumbar arteries

  • innervation: anterior and posterior rami of lumbar spinal nerves

Gross anatomy

Relations
Cervical intertransversarii
  • anterior cervical intertransversarii: deep to the posterior cervical intertransversarii, posterior to the longus colli, and medial to the scalene muscles

  • posterior cervical intertransversarii: lie superficially to the anterior cervical intertransversarii with the anterior rami of cervical spinal nerves running in between

Lumbar intertransversarii
Origin
Cervical intertransversarii
  • anterior cervical intertransversarii: originate from the anterior tubercle of the transverse processes of the C1 (atlas) to T1 vertebrae

  • posterior cervical intertransversarii: originate from the superior aspect of the transverse processes of the C1 to T1 vertebrae

Lumbar intertransversarii
  • medial lumbar intertransversarii: originate from the accessory processes of the L1 to L4 vertebrae

  • lateral lumbar intertransversarii: arise from the transverse and accessory processes of the L1 to L4 vertebrae

Insertion
Cervical intertransversarii
  • anterior cervical intertransversarii: insert onto the anterior tubercle of the corresponding adjacent transverse process (C1 - T1)

  • posterior cervical intertransversarii: attach to the inferior aspect of the transverse process of the corresponding superior vertebra (C1 - T1)

Lumbar intertransversarii
  • medial lumbar intertransversarii: insert onto the mammillary process of the associated lumbar vertebrae (L1 - L4)

  • lateral lumbar intertransversarii: insert onto the transverse process of the associated lumbar vertebra (L1 - L4)

Action

The intertransversarii muscle group assist the erector spinae, multifidus, and semispinalis in ipsilateral flexion of the neck and trunk when contracting unilaterally. Additionally, they play a supportive role during body movement by stabilizing the spine when contracting bilaterally.

Arterial supply
Cervical intertransversarii
Lumbar intertransversarii

The medial and lateral lumbar intertransversarii muscles receive blood supply from the dorsal branches of the lumbar arteries (arising from the abdominal aorta).

Innervation
Cervical intertransversarii
  • anterior cervical intertransversarii: innervated by the anterior rami of the cervical spinal nerves (C1 - C7)

  • posterior cervical intertransversarii: innervated by the anterior and posterior rami of the cervical spinal nerves (C1 - C7)

Lumbar intertransversarii

Both medial and lateral lumbar intertransversarii muscles are innervated by the anterior rami of the lumbar spinal nerves (L1 - L4).

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