The levator scapulae muscle is a long muscle of the shoulder girdle. It is one component of the muscular system of the shoulder. Levator scapulae medical definition merriamwebster. The levator scapulae is the first one to check if you have a stiff and painful neck. Strengthening the antagonist muscles will be able to counteract the force of the problem muscle, in this case the levator scapular, by balancing out the power of the muscle and its associated pull on its bony attachments.
The range of motion of the neck and shoulder will also be reduced. Levator comes from the latin word levare meaning to lift. The levator scapulae attaches from the posterior tubercles of the transverse processes of c1c4 to the medial border of the scapula, from the root of the spine to the superior angle. Apr 22, 2020 learn the anatomy of the levator scapulae muscle with our handy trunk wall muscle anatomy chart. Levator scapulae muscle strains are treated conservatively with ice and hot packs along with exercises for the neck to relax the muscles along with use of muscle relaxants. To do this, the patients hand needs to be satstood upright and their hand placed in the small of their back. Levator scapulae length test in this video i perform a levator scapulae length test when assessing cspx pain and dysfunction. The middle part of levator scapulae muscle is innervated by the spinal accessory nerve. The name of this muscle pretty much gives away its function since levator scapulae is latin for lift the.
The name scapula as synonym of shoulder blade is of latin origin. The levator scapulae muscle tends to hold back the scapula against the trunk. The levator scapulae elevates, downwardly rotates, and retracts the scapula a. Youll find tables clearly showing you the attachments, innervations and functions of every muscle in this region. Levator scapulae muscle an overview sciencedirect topics. Attaches to the transverse process of c1 through c4 vertebra. Mar 18, 2020 one such action of the levator scapulae muscle involves a specific movement of the neck. Medial border of the scapula between spine and superior angle. The levator scapulae is an important muscle to look at if you suffer from a stiff and painful neck.
The levator scapulae is supplied by the dorsal scapular artery. Learn the attachments, innervations and functions of the levator scapulae even faster with this trunk wall muscle anatomy reference chart. Muscular attachments along the medial border of the scapula. Thus its seemingly obvious how the action of the muscles attached to the scapula is determined by their points of insertion or origin. Extends the neck at the cervical spinal joints laterally flexes the neck at the cervical spinal join. Although these muscles are located in the back, they are considered to be muscles of the upper limbs because they connect the upper limbs to the trunk and assist in upper limb movements via the scapula and humerus. The objective is to provide surgeons and other healthcare providers the information critical for treating persons with complex peripheral nerve trauma. Levator scapulae muscle yoga anatomy books, videos, courses. The scapula provides attachment to several groups of muscles. Its primary function is to lift the scapula, which is the.
The levator scapulae, rhomboideus major and minor muscles comprise of double folds at the scapular end. Everyone can suffer from problems caused by this muscle. The levator scapulae muscle journal of chinese medicine number 94 october 2010 pain is often one. Aug 11, 2019 met for levator scapulae john gibbons learn more about mets mets are increasingly being used by therapists in combination with trigger point therapy protocols muscle energy techniques mets emerged as a form of osteopathic manipulative diagnosis and treatment in which the clients muscles are actively used on request, from a precisely controlled position, in a specific direction, and. This shows how the scapula plays an important role in movement. Levator scapulae syndrome is a historical name for pain over the upper medial angle of the scapula1 that is still used in clinical practice incertainssettings round the world. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
This muscle group is responsible for adduction, elevation, and downward rotation of the scapula. This terminology and use of the word syndrome describes a set of signs and symptoms that often present together without identifying the cause of the pain and dysfunction, as is the case with other syndromes. The scapula or shoulder blade is the bone that connects the clavicle to the humerus. As usual get a concise look at this muscle, its attachments, function, and dysfunction. The superior third of the straplike levator scapulae lies deep to the sternocleidomastoid while the inferior third is deep to the trapezius. Sep 08, 2017 the levator scapulae is often weak and painful, but unfortunately villainized by most therapists as over active. In reality, however, most people with neck pain have depressed shoulders and need. This is because this is an often an overactive, overfatigued muscle that can cause pain. Trigger point therapy levator scapulae stretch niel. The biarticulate levator scapulae enters active insufficiency through the completion of scapula elevation and downward rotation when the neck is laterally flexed and rotated to the same side or through the completion of neck lateral flexion and rotation when the scapula is elevated and rotated downward to the same side. When the patient moves their hand off their back, the levator scapulae can be felt in the posterolateral part of the neck. The levator scapulae muscle is located at the side and back of the neck.
In classical latin scapula is only used in its plural scapulae. Assists with contralateral rotation of the head and cervical spine when acting unilaterally. In some cases pain will also refer slightly to the medial border of the scapula and the posterior of the glenohumeral joint. It is commonly used in medical english and is part of the current official latin nomenclature, terminologia anatomica. Scapular muscle origininsertion flashcards quizlet. The levator scapulae originates from the posterior tubercle of the transverse process of cervical vertebrae one to.
You may be a couch potato, an office worker or even a pretty fit rock climber. The anatomy coloring book is one of the best study and reference books for beginning anatomy students. The superficial back muscles consist of the trapezius, levator scapulae, rhomboid major, rhomboid minor, and latissimus dorsi muscles figure 11a. Learn muscle attachments scapula with free interactive flashcards. The levator scapulae is a skeletal muscle situated at the back and side of the neck. The levator scapulae is supplied by the dorsal scapular nerve c4c5, a branch of the brachial plexus. Aug 08, 2017 the levator scapulae muscle is the most important part of the neck, which frequently contributes to neck and shoulder pain. Apr 18, 2015 the antagonist muscle of the levator scapular muscle are the serratus anterior and middle trapezius muscles. Rhomboids and levator scapulae are tested together as a muscle group.
It is situated at the back and the side of the neck, and as its name suggests its main function is to lift the scapula. It also articulates with the humerus and clavicle, forming the glenohumeral shoulder joint and acromioclavicular joint respectively. The levator scapulae muscle is last of the muscles that move the scapula that well look at in the muscle of the month posts. Attaches to the vertebral margin of the scapula, between the superior angle and the root of the spine. Levator scapulae pain is at the angle of the neck and may radiate down the medial border of the scapula or out to the posterior aspect of the shoulder joint.
As the latin name suggests, its main function is to lift the scapula. The intrinsic muscles of the scapula include the rotator cuff muscles, teres major, subscapularis, teres minor, and infraspinatus. Anatomy, head and neck, levator scapulae muscles statpearls. Levator anguli scapulae is situated at the back and side of the neck. The authors described in this report the mode of attachments of muscles along the medial border of the scapula, as seen in sixty adult indians.
Also, the levator scapulae are innervated by the fourth and fifth cervical nerves and the dorsal scapular branch. The dorsal scapular nerve c5 supplies the levator scapulae and rhomboid muscles. The levator scapulae attaches from the medial border of the scapula from the root of the spine to the superior angle to the transverse processes of c1c4. This book is distributed under the terms of the creative commons. The levator scapulae muscles are superficial extrinsic muscles of the back that. The levator scapulae inserts on to the vertebral margin of the scapula between the superior angle and the root of the spine. This is an article covering the bony landmarks, blood supply and muscle attachments to the scapula. A nerve lesion leads to lateral displacement of the vertebral border of the scapula and to rhomboid atrophy difficult to detect. Looking for online definition of levator scapulae muscle in the medical dictionary.
If you do an internet search for levator scapulae most of the hits will be for massage and stretching techniques. Listen to the audio pronunciation in the cambridge english dictionary. Nov 10, 2018 trigger points in the levator scapulae typically refer pain in a triangular pattern from the top of the scapula to the nape of the neck. Aug 08, 2017 a levator scapulae muscle strain may result in shoulder and neck pain along with stiffness of the shoulder and neck. The levator scapulae muscle, in conjunction with the other shoulder muscles, has an important action in stabilizing and moving the scapula and is associated with movement of the shoulder. Levator scapular syndrome 1 reason you may be experiencing. The ridges give attachment to the tendinous insertions, and the surfaces between them. Levator scapulae muscle definition of levator scapulae. The scapula is an important bone as each scapula provides a point of attachment for a number of muscles that make up the arm and shoulder. The superior aspect of the levator scapulae is covered by sternocleidomastoid, and its inferior part by trapezius. Posterior tubercles of the transverse processes of cervical vertebrae 1 to 4 insertion.
In anatomy, the scapula also known as the shoulder bone, shoulder blade, wing bone or blade. Normally, this artery has a small branch which passes laterally to the supraspinatus fossa of the scapula, and in a third of cases, this branch supplies the muscle. Do you know much about the origin, insertion, and action of the levator scapulae, a muscle that is located on the back sides of the neck. Superior angle and the medial aspect of the superior margin of the scapula actions. The scapula forms the posterior of the shoulder girdle. This months muscle of the month is the levator scapulae. Muscles inserted to the scapula act on it, moving it, whereas those originating from it act on parts to which they are inserted. It can definitely be a real pain in the neck if it gets pissed off. 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. Origin posterior tubercles of transverse processes of c14. This muscle does not discriminate when it decides to give you a sore neck. Choose from 500 different sets of muscle attachments scapula flashcards on quizlet. There are many causes of levator scapulae syndrome. Levator scapulae is a posterior axioappenducular muscle that connects the upper limb to the vertebral column and lies in the posterior triangle of the neck.
Labels are based on anatomy lectures from kings college london, but the image is taken from a public domain version of greys anatomy, so unlabeled details may be outdated. Dorsal scapular nerve c5 and ventral primary rami of c3 and c4. Levator scapulae syndrome is a condition in which the levator scapulae muscle becomes irritated and inflamed. In fact, in the modern lifestyle, and working pattern, pain in the neck and upper shoulder mostly occurs due to any disorder in the levator scapulae. Trapezius origin, insertion, action and innervation the. The levator scapulae is a back muscle which connects the scapula to the spinal column. Levator scapulae copyright american academy of manual medicine. The main function of the levator scapulae muscle is to lift or elevate the scapula.
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