Synonyms
Latin: Musculi levatores costarum
Definition
The rib lifting muscles (at. Musculi levatores costarum) are a group of skeletal muscles that belong to the trunk muscles. They move from the ribs to the transverse processes of vertebrae located further to the head.
In humans there are 12 such muscle pairs, which are located between the last cervical and eleventh thoracic vertebrae. They skip a vertebral segment (Musculi levatores costarum breves, “short rib lifters”). The lower four are divided into two strands, one of which skips two segments. These are called “long rib lifters” (Musculi levatores costarum longi).
History
Approach: ribs Origin: transverse processes Innervation: rami posteriores of spinal nerves
Function
The function of the Musculi levatores costarum is the extension (stretching) or dorsiflexion (backward flexion) of the spinal column as well as its inclination to the side. In addition, the Musculi levatores costarum lead to a slight rotational movement in the lower thoracic spine.
