posterior pectoral girdle

• upper trapezius:

  o - Extensive medial attachment from the base of the medial 1/3 of the superior nuchal line and the occipital bone

  • Ligamentum nuchae

  • Spinous processes of C7 to T12 and the intervening supraspinous ligament

  r - down & laterally

  i - posterior border of the lateral 1/3 of the clavicle

  a - Elevation, retraction and lateral rotation of scapula

  ns - Motor: Spinal part of cranial nerve XI (‘Accessory’ nerve)

  • Sensory: Ventral rami C3, C4
• middle trapezius:

  o - Extensive medial attachment from the base of the medial 1/3 of the superior nuchal line and the occipital bone

  • Ligamentum nuchae

  • Spinous processes of C7 to T12 and the intervening supraspinous ligament

  r - almost horizontally

  i - medial border of the acromion and the upper border of the crest of the scapula spine

  a - retraction of scapula

  ns - Motor: Spinal part of cranial nerve XI (‘Accessory’ nerve)

  Sensory: Ventral rami C3, C4
• lower trapezius:

  o - Extensive medial attachment from the base of the medial 1/3 of the superior nuchal line and the occipital bone

  • Ligamentum nuchae

  • Spinous processes of C7 to T12 and the intervening supraspinous ligament

  r - upwards & laterally

  i - converge to form a tendon that attaches to inferior surface of the medial end of the spine of the scapula

  a - depression, retraction & lateral rotation of scapula

  ns - Motor: Spinal part of cranial nerve XI (‘Accessory’ nerve)

  Sensory: Ventral rami C3, C4
• rhomboid major: lies deep to trapezius

  o - spinous processes of T2 to T5 and the intervening supraspinous ligament

  r - obliquely downwards and laterally

  i - medial border of scapula between the spine of scapula and the inferior angle

  a - scapular retraction and medial rotation

  ns - dorsal scapular nerve c5

  
  

  function:

  Scapula stabiliser when other muscles are active
• rhomboid minor:

  o - from the spinous processes of C7 and T1 and the supraspinous ligament between them

  r -obliquely downwards & laterally

  i - medial border of the scapula at the level of the root of the sine of scapua

  a - scapular retraction & medial rotation

  ns - dorsal scapular nerve c5

  
  

  function:

  scapula stabiliser
• levator scapulae:

  o - transverse processes of c1-c4

  r - downwards & laterally

  i - medial border of the scapula between the superior angle and the base of the spine of scapula

  a - elevation, retraction & medial rotation of scapula

  ns - dorsal scapular nerve c5