Thoracolumbar fascia
Diagram of a transverse section of the posterior abdominal wall, to show the disposition of the lumbodorsal fascia.
Superficial muscles of the back. The thoracolumbar fascia is the gray area at bottom center.
Latin	fascia thoracolumbalis, fascia lumbodorsalis
Gray's	subject #115 397

The thoracolumbar fascia (lumbodorsal fascia) is a deep investing membrane which covers the deep muscles of the back of the trunk. It is made up of three layers, anterior, middle, and posterior. The anterior layer is the thinnest and the posterior layer is the thickest. Two spaces are formed between these three layers of the fascia. Between the anterior and middle layer lies the quadratus lumborum muscle. The erector spinae muscle is enclosed between the middle and posterior layers.

Above, it passes in front of the Serratus posterior superior and is continuous with a similar investing layer on the back of the neck—the nuchal fascia.

In the thoracic region the lumbodorsal fascia is a thin fibrous lamina which serves to bind down the Extensor muscles of the vertebral column and to separate them from the muscles connecting the vertebral column to the upper extremity.

It contains both longitudinal and transverse fibers, and is attached, medially, to the spinous processes of the thoracic vertebræ; laterally to the angles of the ribs.

[edit] See also

• Fascia
• Erector spinae muscle

[edit] External links

• Thoracolumbar+fascia at eMedicine Dictionary
• Atlas of anatomy at UMich back_muscles38 - "Thoracolumbar Fascia, Dissection, Posterior View"
• Atlas of anatomy at UMich back_muscles41 - "Trunk, Transverse MRI Showing Lamellae of the Thoracolumbar Fascia"

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 As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.

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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