Serratus: latin for serrated (jagged edges - like a knife!)
Posterior: anatomical term meaning 'towards the back' - (opposite is anterior)
Superior: meaning 'above' - (opposite is inferior)
Serratus Posterior Superior
lives between your shoulder blades!
aka the Christmas tree muscle because the left and right
aka the Christmas tree muscle because the left and right
together (on either side of the spine) looks like an xmas tree (or an arrow head?)
image on right borrowed by quizlet.com
do you see it ?
Muscle Attachments:
Origin: spinous processes of C7-T3 vertebrae *
Insertion: the posterior surface of Ribs 2-5 **
*your vertebrae is your spine! you know, if you bend forward, those bone bumps down the center of your back? they are the spinous processes! and C7* sticks out at the base of your neck and T3* is about half-way down your shoulder blades. So this muscle attaches to four vertebrae (and 3 ribs!)
*C7 - the seventh cervical (neck) vertebrae
*T3 - the third thoracic (thorax) vertebrae
(image c/o yogatuneup.com)
*BE SURE TO CHECKOUT "BREAKING DOWN THE SPINE" TO GIVE YOU A BETTER IDEA OF THESE ATTACHMENT POINTS*
Serratus Posterior Superior Muscle Action
this muscle only affects the movement of the ribs if you can believe it!
more specifically:
elevation of ribs 2-5 at sterno-costal & costo-spinal joints*
*our ribs can elevate (rise) and depress (lower) at the front & back of our ribcage. The front is where the sternum (breastbone) & ribs (costals) meet aka sterno-costal joints
And on the back - costo-spinal joints: is where ribs connect to our spine
NEXT WEEK : Serratus Posterior Inferior
