Trapezius - also known as our 'traps' - can be divided into 3 sections based on the muscle fiber direction. Upper, Middle, and Lower (fibers)
image on left c/o wikipedia
Muscle Attachments Points:
(there are lots for this one!)
Origin:
a) external occipital protuberance
(bony bump on the back of your head)
b) the medial 1/2 of the superior nuchal line and the nuchal ligament
(back of head and ligament on back head and down the neck)
AND c) spinous processes of C7-T12
a) external occipital protuberance
(bony bump on the back of your head)
b) the medial 1/2 of the superior nuchal line and the nuchal ligament
(back of head and ligament on back head and down the neck)
AND c) spinous processes of C7-T12
(bumps on the back of your spine - from the bottom of your neck to the bottom of your ribcage!)
Insertion:
d) Lateral 1/3 of the clavicle, the acromion process and the spine of the scapula
(end of your collarbone where it meets the shoulder > wrapping around back to the (top of the) shoulder blade.
d) Lateral 1/3 of the clavicle, the acromion process and the spine of the scapula
(end of your collarbone where it meets the shoulder > wrapping around back to the (top of the) shoulder blade.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiYWlVbHFPoF3K4sYxHCpJf7zu9XVF5iv5mpvyQ8NPiUjY-lCGnBdIbs7QCKQWc-EFYDuFOniEx1d0uIfOc9B7_WSvLs__8uj6vR61CHDOZWcMBdpxpHDMemAKWevffpU1Lcx17SXucPL_/s1600/TRAPorigininsertion.jpeg)
Muscle Actions:
Muscle movements change depending on attachment points and muscle fiber direction.
Because Trapezius spans across almost our entire back, AND has 3 different fiber directions, we'll divide Trapezius actions by its upper, middle, and lower sections:
Upper: elevation, retraction & upward rotation
Middle: retraction
Lower: depression
*all these movements are of the shoulder blade (aka Scapula) at scapulo-costal joint.
(where the front (anterior) of the shoulder blade meets the rib cage.)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxHVEztTZh6N9a8YbSsOxvWoaxGvb2V6hINhAhEmQjnsxh7GgAMA6ykUz6hAeY1mD8Pcj8PLmlRBnLMpQuuibAIwU0fLWXP22kf_b_I9aMbYKlD7DZUcizJFo2TxkYMvZavl-MVRF_GM3q/s1600/trapeziusactions.jpeg)
Trapezius... it's the squeeziest (!)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpocSJl-OSKsnjHFwcND_0vtqL8QTj5mNs7GucJnTTTWnNE-FO6XwSvh0Wd2N8OLlcDa9VGxns-Z-MILxgqlTK1jHUVZBaDQkXus1715tYIqf9BMkwxH9oBpOowq8hCI-w19kh0QxDJWX/s1600/images.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgepTMABI3hAwfhp9FJLrLLMaj_1zYcm-8izUO62EmsyBK2rjBnx1vbxlYFcJBdtTIGezbmgWoJWvoG-6rZapmolTG_MOMzDr9t92-FdoEKwdB9s_fxTvmbbxbgBID0DJqlaFg08_xV4w78/s1600/CJ_triple_trapeze_May.jpg)