Levator scapulae muscle
Muscles connecting the upper extremity to the vertebral column. (Levator scapula visible at upper right, at the neck.)
Latin	musculus levator scapulae
Gray's	subject #121 435
Origin	Posterior tubercles of transverse processes of C1 - C4 vertebrae
Insertion	Superior part of medial border of scapula
Artery	dorsal scapular artery
Nerve	cervical nerve (C3, C4) and dorsal scapular nerve (C5)
Actions	Elevates scapula and tilts its glenoid cavity inferiorly by rotating scapula

The levator scapulae is situated at the back and side of the neck.

Contents 1 Origin and insertion 2 Actions 3 Variations 4 Nerves 5 Additional images 6 External links

[edit] Origin and insertion

It arises by tendinous slips from the transverse processes of the atlas and axis and from the posterior tubercles of the transverse processes of the third and fourth cervical vertebrae.

It is inserted into the vertebral border of the scapula, between the medial angle and the triangular smooth surface at the root of the spine.

[edit] Actions

If the head is fixed, the levator scapulæ raises the medial angle of the scapula.

If the shoulder is fixed, the muscle inclines the neck to the corresponding side and rotates it in the same direction.

The levator scapulae, along with the trapezius muscle, makes a shrug possible.

[edit] Variations

The number of vertebral attachments varies; a slip may extend to the occipital or mastoid, to the trapezius, scalene or serratus anterior, or to the first or second rib.

The muscle may be subdivided into several distinct parts from origin to insertion.

Levator claviculæ from the transverse processes of one or two upper cervical vertebræ to the outer end of the clavicle corresponds to a muscle of lower animals.

More or less union with the serratus anterior.

[edit] Nerves

The levator scapulæ are supplied by the third and fourth cervical nerves, and frequently by a branch from the dorsal scapular.

[edit] Additional images

A cervical vertebra	Side view of a typical cervical vertebra	Left scapula. Dorsal surface.	Section of the neck at about the level of the sixth cervical vertebra.
Muscles of the neck. Lateral view.	Hypoglossal nerve, cervical plexus, and their branches.	The right brachial plexus with its short branches, viewed from in front.

[edit] External links

• LUC ls
• UWASH levatorscapulae
• -154140595 at GPnotebook
• Muscles/LevatorScapulae at exrx.net

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.

v • d • e List of muscles of torso (TA A04.3-5, GA 4.397) Back splenius (capitis, cervicis) · erector spinae (iliocostalis, longissimus, spinalis) · latissimus dorsi transversospinales: (semispinalis dorsi, semispinalis cervicis, semispinalis capitis, multifidus, rotatores) · interspinales · intertransversarii Vertebral column: trapezius · latissimus dorsi · rhomboid (major, minor) · levator scapulae fascia: Thoracolumbar fascia Thorax intercostales (external, internal, innermost) · subcostales · transversus thoracis · levatores costarum · serratus posterior (inferior, superior) · diaphragm Thoracic cavity: pectoralis major · pectoralis minor · subclavius · serratus anterior fascia: Pectoral fascia · Clavipectoral fascia Abdominopelvic Abdomen/ wall Anterior/ lateral Abdominal external oblique · Transversus abdominis/Conjoint tendon · Rectus sheath (rectus abdominis, pyramidalis) · Arcuate line · Tendinous intersection Cremaster · Abdominal internal oblique Fascia/abdominal fascia: panniculus adiposus (Fascia of Camper) · stratum membranosum (Fascia of Scarpa) · Transversalis fascia (Interfoveolar ligament) Linea alba · Linea semilunaris · Inguinal triangle Inguinal canal (Deep inguinal ring, Superficial inguinal ring, Intercrural fibers, Crura of superficial inguinal ring) Inguinal ligament (Pectineal ligament, Lacunar ligament, Reflected ligament) Posterior quadratus lumborum · psoas major/psoas minor · iliacus  · iliopsoas fascia (Iliac fascia/Iliopectineal arch) Pelvis levator ani (iliococcygeus, pubococcygeus, puborectalis) · coccygeus fascia/pelvic fascia visceral (Rectovaginal fascia, Rectoprostatic fascia) · parietal (Obturator fascia/Tendinous arch, Piriformis fascia) floor/diaphragm: Superior fascia of pelvic diaphragm (Pubovesical ligament, Puboprostatic ligament) · Inferior fascia of pelvic diaphragm Anococcygeal body

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