Figure 1-24
Deep muscles of the back.

The transversospinalis group is made up of three separate muscle groups: rotatores, multifidus, and semispinalis.

These muscles are best seen in the mid to upper thoracic region. They have been removed in the lower thoracic and lumbar areas during the laminectomy procedure. In order to see these, a block of the erector spinae muscles must be removed in the thoracic region.

The transversospinalis muscles are much shorter than the erector spinae group and slant inward from their origins to their insertions taking on an oblique direction. As a group, try to identify these deeply placed transversospinalis muscles. (Figures 1-11; 1-24)