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Semispinalis thoracis
Other Terms:
Musculus semispinalis thoracis,
Muscle semi-épineux du thorax
Muscle parts
None
Latin name
Musculus semispinalis thoracis
Latin muscle parts
None
Group
Epaxial muscle – Transversospinales – Semispinalis
Etymology
The English name for this muscle is the half vertebral cloumn muscle of the thorax. 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 thoracis comes from the Greek thorakos meaning “breast plate or chest.”
Origin
Transverse processes of T6 to T10
Insertion
Spinous processes of C6 to T4
Action
Extends the cervical vertebral column and rotates it to the opposite side.
Nerve supply
Dorsal rami of thoracic spinal nerves (T1 to T9)
Blood supply
Dorsal branches of the posterior intercostal arteries from the thoracic aorta.
Latin
Musculus semispinalis thoracis
French
Muscle semi-épineux du thorax