5. Dissection of the Back

Question 1 What is the key description or significance of Superficial extrinsic back muscles?

Trapezius, latissimus dorsi, levator scapulae, and rhomboids; connected with shoulder girdle and control limb movements.

Question 2 Which term or structure is described as: Trapezius, latissimus dorsi, levator scapulae, and rhomboids; connected with shoulder girdle and control limb movements.

Superficial extrinsic back muscles

Question 3 What is the key description or significance of Intermediate extrinsic back muscles?

Serratus posterior superior and serratus posterior inferior; superficial respiratory muscles.

Question 4 Which term or structure is described as: Serratus posterior superior and serratus posterior inferior; superficial respiratory muscles.

Intermediate extrinsic back muscles

Question 5 What is the key description or significance of Intrinsic back muscles?

Deep/postvertebral muscles that maintain posture and control vertebral-column movement.

Question 6 Which term or structure is described as: Deep/postvertebral muscles that maintain posture and control vertebral-column movement.

Intrinsic back muscles

Question 7 What is the key description or significance of Trapezius?

Superficial extrinsic back muscle forming part of the boundary of the auscultatory triangle.

Question 8 Which term or structure is described as: Superficial extrinsic back muscle forming part of the boundary of the auscultatory triangle.

Trapezius

Question 9 What is the key description or significance of Latissimus dorsi?

Superficial extrinsic back muscle forming boundaries of both auscultatory and lumbar triangles.

Question 10 Which term or structure is described as: Superficial extrinsic back muscle forming boundaries of both auscultatory and lumbar triangles.

Latissimus dorsi

Question 11 What is the key description or significance of Levator scapulae?

Superficial extrinsic back muscle associated with shoulder girdle.

Question 12 Which term or structure is described as: Superficial extrinsic back muscle associated with shoulder girdle.

Levator scapulae

Question 13 What is the key description or significance of Rhomboid minor?

Superficial extrinsic back muscle associated with shoulder girdle.

Question 14 What is the key description or significance of Rhomboid major?

Superficial extrinsic back muscle and floor of the auscultatory triangle.

Question 15 Which term or structure is described as: Superficial extrinsic back muscle and floor of the auscultatory triangle.

Rhomboid major

Question 16 What is the key description or significance of Serratus posterior superior?

Intermediate extrinsic back muscle involved in thoracic-cage movement.

Question 17 Which term or structure is described as: Intermediate extrinsic back muscle involved in thoracic-cage movement.

Serratus posterior superior

Question 18 What is the key description or significance of Serratus posterior inferior?

Intermediate extrinsic back muscle involved in thoracic-cage movement.

Question 19 What is the key description or significance of Splenius capitis?

Member of superficial intrinsic splenius group.

Question 20 Which term or structure is described as: Member of superficial intrinsic splenius group.

Splenius capitis

Question 21 What is the key description or significance of Splenius cervicis?

Member of superficial intrinsic splenius group.

Question 22 What is the key description or significance of Splenius bilateral action?

Extension of head and neck.

Question 23 Which term or structure is described as: Extension of head and neck.

Splenius bilateral action

Question 24 What is the key description or significance of Splenius unilateral action?

Rotation of the head/neck in the handout summary.

Question 25 Which term or structure is described as: Rotation of the head/neck in the handout summary.

Splenius unilateral action

Question 26 What is the key description or significance of Erector spinae?

Intermediate intrinsic back-muscle group maintaining posture and vertebral extension.

Question 27 Which term or structure is described as: Intermediate intrinsic back-muscle group maintaining posture and vertebral extension.

Erector spinae

Question 28 What is the key description or significance of Iliocostalis?

Lateral column of erector spinae group.

Question 29 Which term or structure is described as: Lateral column of erector spinae group.

Iliocostalis

Question 30 What is the key description or significance of Longissimus?

Intermediate column of erector spinae group.

Question 31 Which term or structure is described as: Intermediate column of erector spinae group.

Longissimus

Question 32 What is the key description or significance of Spinalis?

Medial column of erector spinae group.

Question 33 Which term or structure is described as: Medial column of erector spinae group.

Spinalis

Question 34 What is the key description or significance of Erector spinae bilateral action?

Posture maintenance and vertebral extension.

Question 35 Which term or structure is described as: Posture maintenance and vertebral extension.

Erector spinae bilateral action

Question 36 What is the key description or significance of Erector spinae unilateral action?

Lateral flexion of vertebral column.

Question 37 Which term or structure is described as: Lateral flexion of vertebral column.

Erector spinae unilateral action

Question 38 What is the key description or significance of Transversospinalis?

Deep intrinsic group including semispinalis, multifidus, and rotatores.

Question 39 Which term or structure is described as: Deep intrinsic group including semispinalis, multifidus, and rotatores.

Transversospinalis

Question 40 What is the key description or significance of Semispinalis?

Member of the transversospinalis group.

Question 41 Which term or structure is described as: Member of the transversospinalis group.

Semispinalis

Question 42 What is the key description or significance of Multifidus?

Member of the transversospinalis group.

Question 43 What is the key description or significance of Rotatores?

Member of the transversospinalis group.

Question 44 What is the key description or significance of Transversospinalis action?

Extension and rotation of head, neck, and trunk.

Question 45 Which term or structure is described as: Extension and rotation of head, neck, and trunk.

Transversospinalis action

Question 46 What is the key description or significance of Interspinales?

Minor deep intrinsic muscles assisting vertebral extension.

Question 47 Which term or structure is described as: Minor deep intrinsic muscles assisting vertebral extension.

Interspinales

Question 48 What is the key description or significance of Intertransversarii?

Minor deep intrinsic muscles assisting lateral flexion.

Question 49 Which term or structure is described as: Minor deep intrinsic muscles assisting lateral flexion.

Intertransversarii

Question 50 What is the key description or significance of Levatores costarum?

Minor deep back muscles that elevate ribs.

Question 51 Which term or structure is described as: Minor deep back muscles that elevate ribs.

Levatores costarum

Question 52 What is the key description or significance of Postural tone of deep back muscles?

Major factor responsible for maintenance of normal vertebral curvatures.

Question 53 Which term or structure is described as: Major factor responsible for maintenance of normal vertebral curvatures.

Postural tone of deep back muscles

Question 54 What is the key description or significance of Auscultatory triangle?

Surface interval bounded by trapezius, latissimus dorsi, and medial border of scapula.

Question 55 Which term or structure is described as: Surface interval bounded by trapezius, latissimus dorsi, and medial border of scapula.

Auscultatory triangle

Question 56 What is the key description or significance of Auscultatory triangle floor?

Rhomboid major.

Question 57 Which term or structure is described as: Rhomboid major.

Auscultatory triangle floor

Question 58 What is the key description or significance of Auscultatory triangle significance?

Posterior site where breath sounds are most easily heard.

Question 59 Which term or structure is described as: Posterior site where breath sounds are most easily heard.

Auscultatory triangle significance

Question 60 What is the key description or significance of Lumbar triangle of Petit?

Triangle bounded by latissimus dorsi, iliac crest, and posterior free border of external oblique.

Question 61 Which term or structure is described as: Triangle bounded by latissimus dorsi, iliac crest, and posterior free border of external oblique.

Lumbar triangle of Petit

Question 62 What is the key description or significance of Lumbar triangle floor?

Internal oblique muscle.

Question 63 Which term or structure is described as: Internal oblique muscle.

Lumbar triangle floor

Question 64 What is the key description or significance of Lumbar triangle significance?

Site of weakness where posterior abdominal/lumbar hernia may occur and where pus may emerge.

Question 65 Which term or structure is described as: Site of weakness where posterior abdominal/lumbar hernia may occur and where pus may emerge.

Lumbar triangle significance

Question 66 What is the key description or significance of Dorsal primary rami?

Spinal-nerve branches that innervate skin and deep muscles of the back.

Question 67 Which term or structure is described as: Spinal-nerve branches that innervate skin and deep muscles of the back.

Dorsal primary rami

Question 68 What is the key description or significance of Ventral primary rami?

Spinal-nerve branches forming plexuses and intercostal/subcostal nerves rather than supplying intrinsic back muscles.

Question 69 Which term or structure is described as: Spinal-nerve branches forming plexuses and intercostal/subcostal nerves rather than supplying intrinsic back muscles.

Ventral primary rami

Question 70 What is the key description or significance of Spinous process?

Midline posterior vertebral process and a practical bony landmark during back dissection.

Question 71 Which term or structure is described as: Midline posterior vertebral process and a practical bony landmark during back dissection.

Spinous process

Question 72 What is the key description or significance of Transverse process?

Paired lateral vertebral processes serving as muscular/ligamentous landmarks.

Question 73 Which term or structure is described as: Paired lateral vertebral processes serving as muscular/ligamentous landmarks.

Transverse process

Question 74 What is the key description or significance of Lamina?

Posterior part of vertebral arch lying deep to intrinsic back musculature.

Question 75 Which term or structure is described as: Posterior part of vertebral arch lying deep to intrinsic back musculature.

Lamina

Question 76 What is the key description or significance of Ligamentum nuchae?

Median fibrous septum in posterior neck separating muscles of the two sides.

Question 77 Which term or structure is described as: Median fibrous septum in posterior neck separating muscles of the two sides.

Ligamentum nuchae

Question 78 What is the key description or significance of Supraspinous ligament?

Ligament running between tips of adjacent spinous processes.

Question 79 Which term or structure is described as: Ligament running between tips of adjacent spinous processes.

Supraspinous ligament

Question 80 What is the key description or significance of Interspinous ligament?

Ligament between adjacent spinous processes.

Question 81 Which term or structure is described as: Ligament between adjacent spinous processes.

Interspinous ligament

Question 82 What is the key description or significance of Intertransverse ligament?

Ligament between adjacent transverse processes.

Question 83 Which term or structure is described as: Ligament between adjacent transverse processes.

Intertransverse ligament

Question 84 What is the key description or significance of Ligamentum flavum?

Ligament connecting laminae of adjacent vertebrae.

Question 85 Which term or structure is described as: Ligament connecting laminae of adjacent vertebrae.

Ligamentum flavum

Question 86 During a back practical, a large superficial muscle forms the inferior boundary of the auscultatory triangle and part of the lumbar triangle. Identify it.

Latissimus dorsi.

Question 87 A muscle is reflected and the floor of the auscultatory triangle is exposed. Which muscle forms that floor?

Rhomboid major.

Question 88 Which two major superficial extrinsic muscles would be prominent early in a posterior back dissection?

Trapezius and latissimus dorsi.

Question 89 Which superficial extrinsic muscles connect the back to the scapular girdle besides trapezius and latissimus dorsi?

Levator scapulae and the rhomboids.

Question 90 After identifying serratus posterior superior and inferior, which layer/group have you reached?

The intermediate extrinsic back-muscle group.

Question 91 Which intrinsic group is encountered as three longitudinal columns named iliocostalis, longissimus, and spinalis?

Erector spinae.

Question 92 Which intrinsic group includes semispinalis, multifidus, and rotatores?

Transversospinalis.

Question 93 Which intrinsic group includes splenius capitis and splenius cervicis?

The superficial intrinsic splenius group.

Question 94 Which erector-spinae column is most lateral?

Iliocostalis.

Question 95 Which erector-spinae column lies between iliocostalis and spinalis?

Longissimus.

Question 96 Which erector-spinae column is most medial?

Spinalis.

Question 97 A structure is a small deep muscle between spinous processes. Identify the group.

Interspinales.

Question 98 A structure is a small deep muscle between transverse processes. Identify the group.

Intertransversarii.

Question 99 A small deep muscle elevates a rib. Identify it.

Levator costarum.

Question 100 Which nerve branches should be expected to supply the deep intrinsic back muscles?

Dorsal primary rami.