Spinal muscles

Spinal muscles play a vital role in the normal functioning of the vertebral column. Either they attach directly to the vertebrae or their action can influence the spine via their attachments to the ribs or fascia; therefore, a comprehensive understanding of these muscles is fundamental to studying and understanding human spine biomechanics and deciphering the mechanisms of back pain or injury. This chapter provides an overview of the biomechanics, physiology and anatomy of spine musculature, a summary of interrelationships between the spinal muscles and low back disorders, and descriptions of how muscles are incorporated into computational models of the cervical and lumbar spine. Throughout, particular attention is given to the lumbar region because of its clinical relevance in low back pain.