Multifidus colli muscle

At a glance

English

Multifidus colli muscle

Latin (TA2)

Musculus multifidus colli

System

Muscle

Region

Neck

Side

Paired, left and right

About the multifidus colli muscle

Multifidus is a deep back muscle made of many small, part-fleshy, part-tendinous bundles that fill the groove on each side of the spinous processes from the sacrum up to the axis. It belongs to the transversospinal group, which runs from the transverse or articular processes of one vertebra to the spines of vertebrae above. Multifidus colli is its cervical portion. It lies under semispinalis cervicis and capitis and over the rotatores.

In the neck the bundles arise from the articular processes of C4 to C7, and from the upper thoracic transverse processes. Each bundle slants upwards and medially and ends along the length of a spinous process higher up, the highest reaching the axis. The bundles come in different lengths: the most superficial and longest skip three or four levels, the next skip two or three, and the deepest join adjacent vertebrae.

Because it is thick near the joints and spans only a few segments, multifidus works mainly as a stabiliser, holding each vertebra firmly on the next and controlling small movements so that the facet joints and discs are not strained. When both sides act it helps extend the neck; one side alone helps turn the vertebrae towards the opposite side and bend the neck to the same side. It is rich in muscle spindles, so it also gives fine information about joint position.

It is supplied segment by segment by the medial branches of the dorsal rami of the cervical spinal nerves, and receives blood from the deep cervical, vertebral and occipital arteries. In the lower back, poor control and wasting of multifidus, often with fat replacing muscle on MRI or ultrasound, is closely tied to recurring back pain and may persist after the pain settles; similar changes are reported in the neck in chronic neck pain and after whiplash.

Attachments, action and supply

Origin

Articular processes of C4 to C7 and upper thoracic transverse processes.

Insertion

Spinous processes two to four levels higher, up to the axis.

Action

Stabilises the cervical segments; extends the neck, and one side helps rotate it to the opposite side.

Nerve supply

Medial branches of the dorsal rami of the cervical spinal nerves.

Blood supply

Deep cervical, vertebral and occipital arteries.