Interspinales muscles

The interspinales are short muscle fascicles, found in pairs between the spinous processes of the contiguous vertebrae, one on either side of the interspinal ligament.

• In the cervical region, the cervical interspinales are most distinct, and consist of six pairs, the first being situated between the axis and third vertebra, and the last between the seventh cervical and the first thoracic. They are small narrow bundles, attached, above and below, to the apices of the spinous processes.
• In the thoracic region, the thoracic interspinales are found between the first and second vertebrae, and sometimes between the second and third, and between the eleventh and twelfth.
• In the lumbar region, there are four pairs of lumbar interspinales in the intervals between the five lumbar vertebrae. There is also occasionally one between the last thoracic and first lumbar, and one between the fifth lumbar and the sacrum.

Interspinales muscles
Details
Origin	Spinous process
Insertion	Spinous process
Nerve	Posterior rami of spinal nerves
Actions	Proprioception of vertebral column
Identifiers
Latin	musculi interspinales
TA98	A04.3.02.301
TA2	2290
FMA	71306 22841, 71306
Anatomical terms of muscle

See also

• Intertransversarii
• Iliocostalis
• Longissimus
• Spinalis
• Levatores costarum

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 400 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)