Semispinalis thoracis spans the greatest number of vertebral levels of all the semispinalis components, bridging from the mid-thoracic transverse processes to the lower cervical spinous processes.
| Origin | Transverse processes of T6-T10 |
|---|---|
| Insertion | Spinous processes of C6-T4 — spanning 5-6 vertebral levels |
| Nerve Supply | Dorsal rami of thoracic spinal nerves |
| Blood Supply | Posterior intercostal arteries |
| Actions | Extends the thoracic and lower cervical spine; Contralateral thoracic rotation |
|---|
Semispinalis thoracis is identified in posterior thoracic surgery as the lateral paraspinal layer deep to the erector spinae. Its long span means that segmental dorsal rami injury affects multiple vertebral levels of function.
Palpated as the lateral paraspinal mass adjacent to the thoracic spinous processes.
Multi-level dorsal rami injury producing semispinalis thoracis denervation and thoracic paraspinal atrophy after multilevel posterior spinal instrumentation.
This website uses cookies to enhance your experience. Some are essential for site functionality, while others help us analyze and improve your usage experience. Please review your options and make your choice.
If you are under 16 years old, please ensure that you have received consent from your parent or guardian for any non-essential cookies.
Your privacy is important to us. You can adjust your cookie settings at any time. For more information about how we use data, please read our privacy policy. You may change your preferences at any time by clicking on the settings button below.
Note that if you choose to disable some types of cookies, it may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
Some required resources have been blocked, which can affect third-party services and may cause the site to not function properly.
This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and ensure the site functions properly. By continuing to use this site, you acknowledge and accept our use of cookies.
