levator scapulae muscle

Information about levator scapulae muscle

Levator scapulae muscle
Muscles connecting the upper extremity to the vertebral column. (Levator scapula visible at upper right, at the neck.)
Latinmusculus levator scapulae
subject #121 435
Origin:Posterior tubercles of transverse processes of C1 - C4 vertebrae
Insertion:Superior part of medial border of scapula
Artery:dorsal scapular artery
Nerve:cervical nerve (C3, C4) and dorsal scapular nerve (C5)
Action:Elevates scapula and tilts its glenoid cavity inferiorly by rotating scapula
Dorlands/Elsevier m_22/12549630
The levator scapulae is situated at the back and side of the neck.

Origin and insertion

It arises by tendinous slips from the transverse processes of the atlas and axis and from the posterior tubercles of the transverse processes of the third and fourth cervical vertebrae.

It is inserted into the vertebral border of the scapula, between the medial angle and the triangular smooth surface at the root of the spine.

Actions

If the head is fixed, the Levator scapulæ raises the medial angle of the scapula.

If the shoulder is fixed, the muscle inclines the neck to the corresponding side and rotates it in the same direction.

Variations

The number of vertebral attachments varies; a slip may extend to the occipital or mastoid, to the Trapezius, Scalene or Serratus anterior, or to the first or second rib.

The muscle may be subdivided into several distinct parts from origin to insertion.

Levator claviculæ from the transverse processes of one or two upper cervical vertebræ to the outer end of the clavicle corresponds to a muscle of lower animals.

More or less union with the Serratus anterior.

Nerves

The Levator scapulæ are supplied by the third and fourth cervical nerves, and frequently by a branch from the dorsal scapular.

Additional images


A cervical vertebra

Side view of a typical cervical vertebra

Left scapula. Dorsal surface.

Section of the neck at about the level of the sixth cervical vertebra.

Muscles of the neck. Lateral view.

Hypoglossal nerve, cervical plexus, and their branches.

The right brachial plexus with its short branches, viewed from in front.


External links

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.
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Muscles of upper limbs
VERTEBRAL COLUMNtrapezius - latissimus dorsi - rhomboid major - rhomboid minor - levator scapulae
THORACIC WALLSpectoralis major - pectoralis minor - subclavius - serratus anterior
SHOULDERdeltoid - rotator cuff (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis) - teres major
ARManterior compartment: coracobrachialis - biceps brachii - brachialis
posterior compartment: triceps brachii - anconeus
FOREARManterior compartment: super. - pronator teres - palmaris longus - flexor carpi radialis - flexor carpi ulnaris - flexor digitorum superficialis - deep - pronator quadratus - flexor digitorum profundus - flexor pollicis longus
posterior compartment: super. - mobile wad (brachioradialis, extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis) - extensor digitorum, - extensor digiti minimi - extensor carpi ulnaris - deep - supinator - anatomical snuff box (abductor pollicis longus, extensor pollicis brevis, extensor pollicis longus) - extensor indicis
HANDlateral volar - thenar (opponens pollicis, flexor pollicis brevis, abductor pollicis brevis, adductor pollicis)
medial volar - palmaris brevis - hypothenar (abductor minimi digiti, flexor digiti minimi brevis, opponens digiti minimi)
intermediate - lumbrical - dorsal interossei - palmar interossei
vertebral column (backbone or spine) is a column of 34 vertebrae, the sacrum, intervertebral discs, and the coccyx situated in the dorsal aspect of the torso, separated by spinal discs. It houses the spinal cord in its spinal canal.
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Latin}}} 
Official status
Official language of: Vatican City
Used for official purposes, but not spoken in everyday speech
Regulated by: Opus Fundatum Latinitas
Roman Catholic Church
Language codes
ISO 639-1: la
ISO 639-2: lat
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bold refer to the diagram at right.)

In the skull (8):
  • 1-9. cranium
  • 7. mandible
''In the middle ears (6):
  • malleus
  • incus
  • stapes
In the throat (1):
  • hyoid
In the shoulder girdle (4):
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posterior tubercle, which is the rudiment of a spinous process and gives origin to the Recti capitis posteriores minores.

The diminutive size of this process prevents any interference with the movements between the atlas and the skull.
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The transverse processes of a vertebra, two in number, project one at either side from the point where the lamina joins the pedicle, between the superior and inferior articular processes. They serve for the attachment of muscles and ligaments.
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bold refer to the diagram at right.)

In the skull (8):
  • 1-9. cranium
  • 7. mandible
''In the middle ears (6):
  • malleus
  • incus
  • stapes
In the throat (1):
  • hyoid
In the shoulder girdle (4):
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Medial border can refer to:
  • Medial border of scapula
  • medial border of kidney

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scapula, or shoulder blade, is the bone that connects the humerus (arm bone) with the clavicle (collar bone).

The scapula forms the posterior part of the shoulder girdle. In humans, it is a flat bone, roughly triangular in shape.
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Arteries are muscular blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart.[1] All arteries, with the exception of the pulmonary and umbilical arteries, carry oxygenated blood.

The circulatory system is extremely important for sustaining life.
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The dorsal scapular artery (or descending scapular artery[1]) is a blood vessel which supplies the latissimus dorsi, levator scapulae, rhomboids, and trapezius.
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  • Accessory nerve
  • Accessory obturator nerve
  • Alderman's nerve
  • Anococcygeal nerve
  • Ansa cervicalis
  • Anterior interosseous nerve
  • Anterior superior alveolar nerve
  • Aortic plexus
  • Auerbach's plexus
  • Auriculotemporal nerve
  • Axillary nerve

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The cervical nerves are the spinal nerves from the cervical vertebrae.

Although there are seven cervical vertebrae (C1-C7), there are eight cervical nerves (C1-C8).
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The dorsal scapular nerve arises from the brachial plexus, usually from the plexus root (anterior ramus) of C5.

It provides motor innervation to the rhomboid muscles, which pull the scapula towards the spine and levator scapulae muscle, which elevates the scapula.
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Kinesiology is the scientific study of the anatomy, physiology, and mechanics of body movement, especially in humans. [1] The word kinesiology is derived the Greek "kinesis" (motion) + the suffix -ology or -logy from the greek "logos" or "logia"(meaning a field of study).
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Elevation, in kinesiology is the anatomical term of motion for movement in a superior direction.

It is the opposite of depression.

Muscles

  • elevation of the scapula at the shoulders (e.g.

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scapula, or shoulder blade, is the bone that connects the humerus (arm bone) with the clavicle (collar bone).

The scapula forms the posterior part of the shoulder girdle. In humans, it is a flat bone, roughly triangular in shape.
..... Click the link for more information.
glenoid cavity (or glenoid fossa of scapula), which is directed lateralward and forward and articulates with the head of the humerus; it is broader below than above and its vertical diameter is the longest.
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Elsevier, the world's largest publisher of medical and scientific literature, forms part of the Reed Elsevier group. Based in Amsterdam, the company has substantial operations in the UK, USA and elsewhere.
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The transverse processes of a vertebra, two in number, project one at either side from the point where the lamina joins the pedicle, between the superior and inferior articular processes. They serve for the attachment of muscles and ligaments.
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In anatomy, the atlas (C1) is the topmost (first) cervical vertebra of the spine.

It is named for the Atlas of mythology, because it supports the globe of the head.
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axis (from Latin axis, "axle") or epistropheus.

It forms the pivot upon which the first cervical vertebra (the atlas), which carries the head, rotates.
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posterior tubercle, which is the rudiment of a spinous process and gives origin to the Recti capitis posteriores minores.

The diminutive size of this process prevents any interference with the movements between the atlas and the skull.
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In vertebrates, cervical vertebrae (singular: vertebra) are those vertebrae immediately behind (caudal to) the skull.

Variation among species

In some species, some parts of the skull may be composed of vertebra-like elements, e.g.
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scapula, or shoulder blade, is the bone that connects the humerus (arm bone) with the clavicle (collar bone).

The scapula forms the posterior part of the shoulder girdle. In humans, it is a flat bone, roughly triangular in shape.
..... Click the link for more information.
The superior angle of the scapula (or medial angle), formed by the junction of the superior and vertebral borders, is thin, smooth, rounded, inclined somewhat lateralward, and gives attachment to a few fibers of the Levator scapulae.
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vertebral column (backbone or spine) is a column of 34 vertebrae, the sacrum, intervertebral discs, and the coccyx situated in the dorsal aspect of the torso, separated by spinal discs. It houses the spinal cord in its spinal canal.
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The superior angle of the scapula (or medial angle), formed by the junction of the superior and vertebral borders, is thin, smooth, rounded, inclined somewhat lateralward, and gives attachment to a few fibers of the Levator scapulae.
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The neck is the part of the body on many limbed vertebrates that distinguishes the head from the torso or trunk.

Anatomy of the human neck

Bony anatomy: The cervical spine

The cervical portion of the human spine
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This article or section may be confusing or unclear for some readers.
Please [improve the article] or discuss this issue on the talk page. This article has been tagged since December 2006.
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Scalene may refer to:
  • A scalene triangle is one in which all sides (or angles) are different
  • A scalene ellipsoid is one in which the lengths of all three semi-principal axes are different
  • Scalene muscles of the neck

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