Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: The anatomy of the human body / By J. Cruveilhier. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Lamar Soutter Library, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Lamar Soutter Library at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.
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![of the same muscle in raising that part; but, on the other hand, it antagonizes the tra- pezius by depressing the apex of the shoulder. The Levator Anguli Scapulce. Dissection.—Detach the trapezius from the spine of the scapula with care ; divide the upper part of the sterno-mastoid, so as to expose the transverse processes of the three or four superior cervical vertebrae. The levator anguli scapula (levator scapulae, Albinus, f, figs. 106, 110, 113, 114), situ- ated at the posterior and lateral part of the neck, is an elongated bundle, having its up- per portion flattened from without inward, and divided into three or four fasciculi, while the lower part is flattened from behind forward. Attachments.—It arises from the posterior tubercles of the transverse processes of the three or four superior cervical vertebrae, externally to the splenius, and behind the sca- lenus posticus ; it is inserted into the superior angle of the scapula (whence its name), and into all that portion of its internal costa situated above the spine. The cervical attachments of this muscle consist of four tendons, to which succeed an equal number of fleshy fasciculi, at first distinct, but afterward united into one bundle, which proceeds downward, backward, and outward, and spreads out to be inserted into the scapula by short aponeurotic fibres. Relations.—It is covered by the trapezius, the sterno-mastoid, and the skin ; and it lies superficially to the splenius, the sacro-lumbalis, the transversalis colli, and the ser- ratis posticus superior. Action.—When its upper attachment is fixed, this muscle carries the posterior angle of the scapula upward and forward, and, consequently, rotates that bone, so as to depress the apex of the shoulder. It conspires with the rhomboid and the trapezius in elevating the entire shoulder, and with the rhomboid in depressing its apex, in this respect acting as an antagonist to the trapezius. When the fixed point is below, which must be very rarely, it inclines the neck backward and to its own side. The Serrati Postici. These are two in number, a superior and an inferior. Dissection.—1. To expose the superior muscle, divide and reflect the trapezius and the rhomboid, and draw the scapula forward ; 2. To display the inferior, raise the latissimus dorsi with great care, as its deep aponeurosis is blended with that of the serratus posticus inferior; 3. Preserve the thin aponeurosis extending between the two serrati muscles.* 1. The serratus posticus superior is situated at the upper and back part of the thorax, and is of an irregularly-quadrilateral figure. Attachments.—It arises from the ligamentum nuchae and the spinous processes of the seventh cervical and of the two or three upper dorsal vertebrae, and is inserted into the upper borders of the second, third, fourth, and fifth ribs. The vertebral attachment con- sists of a very thin aponeurosis, the fibres of which are parallel, and inclined downward and outward. From this aponeurosis, which constitutes at least the inner half of the muscle, the fleshy fibres proceed in the same direction, and almost immediately divide into four digitations, which are inserted into the ribs by means of short tendinous fibres. The superior digitation is attached near the angle of the corresponding rib, and each of the others at successively greater distances from it. 2. The serratus posticus inferior (lumbo-costalis, Chaussicr, g,fig. 106) is also of an ir- regularly-quadrilateral form, and is situated at the lower part of the back and the upper part of the loins. It arises from the spinous processes of the two lower dorsal and three upper lumbar vertebrae, and is inserted into the inferior borders of the last four ribs. The vertebral or internal attachment consists of an aponeurosis similar to that of the prece- ding muscle, but its fibres have an inverse direction, i. e., obliquely outward and upward. From this aponeurosis, which forms the internal half of the muscle, the fleshy fibres pro- ceed in the same direction, and divide into four flat digitations, progressively decreasing in size from above downward, which are inserted into the ribs by means of tendinous laminae, the superior digitation near the angle of its corresponding rib, and the others, successively, farther beyond it. Relations.—These two muscles have certain relations in common, and there are some peculiar to each. They both cover the longissimus dorsi, the sacro-lumbalis, the trans- verso-spinalis, the ribs, and the corresponding intercostal muscles. The superior is cov- ered by the rhomboideus, the trapezius, and the serratus magnus, and covers the splenius and transversalis colli. The inferior is covered by the latissimus dorsi, with the apo- neurosis of which muscle its own aponeurotic lamina is so closely united that it is impos- sible to separate them completely ; and it covers the posterior layer of the aponeurosis of the transversalis. Action.—Besides certain common uses, each muscle has its own peculiar action. One * [This exceeding-ly thin and semi-transparent lamella has received the name of the vertebral aponeurosis. See Aponeurology,] Co](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21196801_0225.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
