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Semispinalis cervicis
Other Terms:
Musculus semispinalis cervicis,
Musculus semispinalis colli,
Muscle semi-épineux du cou
Muscle parts
None
Latin name
Musculus semispinalis cervicis
Latin muscle parts
None
Group
Epaxial muscle – Transversospinales – Semispinalis
Etymology
The English name for this muscle is the half vertebral cloumn muscle of the neck. The word semispinalis comes from the combined Latin word semis meaning “half” and spinalis comes from the Latin spina meaning “thorn.” This term was applied to pointed projections and in the 14th century was applied to the vertebral column with all its palpable spinous processes that form the dorsal line of the backbone.The word cervicis comes from the Latin cervix meaning “neck.”
Origin
Transverse processes of T1 to T6
Insertion
Sides of spinous processes of C2 to C5
Action
Extends the cervical vertebral column and rotates it to the opposite side.
Nerve supply
Dorsal rami of cervical and thoracic spinal nerves (C3 to T5)
Blood supply
The lateral cervical portion of the muscle receives a blood supply from the deep cervical artery, which arises from the costocervical trunk of the subclavian artery and the descending branch of the occipital artery, which forms an anastomosis with the deep cervical artery. Dorsal branches of the posterior intercostal arteries from the thoracic aorta.
Latin
Musculus semispinalis cervicis
Latin
Musculus semispinalis colli
French
Muscle semi-épineux du cou