Back Muscles Quiz

1. During a pull-up, the arms are fixed overhead and the trunk is drawn upward toward them. Which back muscle contributes strongly to this movement?

2. After an injury to the spinal accessory nerve in the posterior triangle of the neck, a person has difficulty shrugging one shoulder. Which back muscle is most directly affected?

3. If the right splenius capitis contracts by itself, which movement is expected?

4. Which set consists entirely of muscles in the transversospinalis group?

5. During a prone trunk-extension exercise, which muscle group acts bilaterally as a major extensor of the vertebral column?

6. A clinician places a stethoscope over the triangle of auscultation. Which muscle normally forms the muscular floor of this small region?

7. A muscle attaches to the medial border of the scapula above the root of its spine and helps elevate the scapula. Which muscle is it?

8. Where does the latissimus dorsi insert on the humerus?

9. As the arm is raised overhead, which portions of the trapezius work together to help rotate the scapula upward?

10. Which three longitudinal columns make up the erector spinae group?

11. Which large, superficial triangular muscle extends from the occipital region and thoracic spinous processes to the clavicle and scapula?

12. After the trapezius is reflected, a muscle is seen running from the T2-T5 spinous processes to the medial border of the scapula below its spine. Which muscle is it?

13. Which action is most characteristic of the rhomboid major?

14. A lesion affecting the posterior, or dorsal, rami of spinal nerves would most directly weaken which muscles?

15. Damage to which nerve would most directly weaken the latissimus dorsi?

16. A clinician wants to activate a deep muscle that provides segment-by-segment stability along the vertebral column. Which muscle best fits that role?