Anatomy, Head and Neck, Levator Scapulae Muscles

James P. Henry, Sunil Munakomi, James P. Henry, Sunil Munakomi

Excerpt

The levator scapulae muscles are superficial extrinsic muscles of the back that primarily function to elevate the scapulae. Levator comes from the Latin levare, meaning "to raise." Scapulae refer to the scapulas, or shoulder blades, possibly originating from the Greek "skaptein," meaning "to dig." In conjunction with other posterior axial-appendicular muscles, the levator scapulae can inferiorly rotate the glenoid cavity and extend and laterally flex the neck. The levator scapulae also serve a role in connecting the axial skeleton with the superior appendicular skeleton. The levator scapulae can be involved in numerous pathologies, including snapping scapula syndrome, levator scapulae syndrome, Sprengel deformity, cervical myofascial pain, and fibromyalgia.

Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: James Henry declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Sunil Munakomi declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Copyright © 2024, StatPearls Publishing LLC.

References

    1. Anderson WS, Lawson HC, Belzberg AJ, Lenz FA. Selective denervation of the levator scapulae muscle: an amendment to the Bertrand procedure for the treatment of spasmodic torticollis. J Neurosurg. 2008 Apr;108(4):757-63.
    1. Mitchell B, Imonugo O, Tripp JE. StatPearls [Internet] StatPearls Publishing; Treasure Island (FL): 2023. Aug 14, Anatomy, Back, Extrinsic Muscles.
    1. Oladipo GS, Aigbogun EO, Akani GL. Angle at the Medial Border: The Spinovertebra Angle and Its Significance. Anat Res Int. 2015;2015:986029.
    1. Vetter M, Charran O, Yilmaz E, Edwards B, Muhleman MA, Oskouian RJ, Tubbs RS, Loukas M. Winged Scapula: A Comprehensive Review of Surgical Treatment. Cureus. 2017 Dec 07;9(12):e1923.
    1. Ihnatsenka B, Boezaart AP. Applied sonoanatomy of the posterior triangle of the neck. Int J Shoulder Surg. 2010 Jul;4(3):63-74.
    1. Frank RM, Ramirez J, Chalmers PN, McCormick FM, Romeo AA. Scapulothoracic anatomy and snapping scapula syndrome. Anat Res Int. 2013;2013:635628.
    1. Cowan PT, Mudreac A, Varacallo M. StatPearls [Internet] StatPearls Publishing; Treasure Island (FL): 2023. Aug 8, Anatomy, Back, Scapula.
    1. Eliot DJ. Electromyography of levator scapulae: new findings allow tests of a head stabilization model. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1996 Jan;19(1):19-25.
    1. Bishop KN, Varacallo M. StatPearls [Internet] StatPearls Publishing; Treasure Island (FL): 2023. Jul 30, Anatomy, Shoulder and Upper Limb, Dorsal Scapular Nerve.
    1. Goto H, Kimmey SC, Row RH, Matus DQ, Martin BL. FGF and canonical Wnt signaling cooperate to induce paraxial mesoderm from tailbud neuromesodermal progenitors through regulation of a two-step epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Development. 2017 Apr 15;144(8):1412-1424.
    1. Kohli S, Yadav N, Prasad A, Banerjee SS. Anatomic variation of subclavian artery visualized on ultrasound-guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block. Case Rep Med. 2014;2014:394920.
    1. Verenna AA, Alexandru D, Karimi A, Brown JM, Bove GM, Daly FJ, Pastore AM, Pearson HE, Barbe MF. Dorsal Scapular Artery Variations and Relationship to the Brachial Plexus, and a Related Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Case. J Brachial Plex Peripher Nerve Inj. 2016;11(1):e21-e28.
    1. Reiner A, Kasser R. Relative frequency of a subclavian vs. a transverse cervical origin for the dorsal scapular artery in humans. Anat Rec. 1996 Feb;244(2):265-8.
    1. Muir B. Dorsal scapular nerve neuropathy: a narrative review of the literature. J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2017 Aug;61(2):128-144.
    1. Chotai PN, Loukas M, Tubbs RS. Unusual origin of the levator scapulae muscle from mastoid process. Surg Radiol Anat. 2015 Dec;37(10):1277-81.
    1. Menachem A, Kaplan O, Dekel S. Levator scapulae syndrome: an anatomic-clinical study. Bull Hosp Jt Dis. 1993 Spring;53(1):21-4.
    1. Loukas M, Louis RG, Merbs W. A case of atypical insertion of the levator scapulae. Folia Morphol (Warsz) 2006 Aug;65(3):232-5.
    1. Galano GJ, Bigliani LU, Ahmad CS, Levine WN. Surgical treatment of winged scapula. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2008 Mar;466(3):652-60.
    1. Nguyen H, Nguyen HV. [The 2 key muscles in thoracotomy for excision of the lung. The latissimus dorsi and the levator scapulae muscles]. J Chir (Paris) 1986 Nov;123(11):626-34.
    1. Estwanik JJ. Levator Scapulae Syndrome. Phys Sportsmed. 1989 Oct;17(10):57-68.
    1. de Carvalho SC, Castro ADAE, Rodrigues JC, Cerqueira WS, Santos DDCB, Rosemberg LA. Snapping scapula syndrome: pictorial essay. Radiol Bras. 2019 Jul-Aug;52(4):262-267.
    1. Patzkowski JC, Owens BD, Burns TC. Snapping scapula syndrome in the military. Clin Sports Med. 2014 Oct;33(4):757-66.
    1. Warth RJ, Spiegl UJ, Millett PJ. Scapulothoracic bursitis and snapping scapula syndrome: a critical review of current evidence. Am J Sports Med. 2015 Jan;43(1):236-45.
    1. Merolla G, Cerciello S, Paladini P, Porcellini G. Snapping scapula syndrome: current concepts review in conservative and surgical treatment. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. 2013 Apr;3(2):80-90.
    1. Duyur Cakit B, Genç H, Altuntaş V, Erdem HR. Disability and related factors in patients with chronic cervical myofascial pain. Clin Rheumatol. 2009 Jun;28(6):647-54.
    1. Money S. Pathophysiology of Trigger Points in Myofascial Pain Syndrome. J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother. 2017 Jun;31(2):158-159.
    1. Touma J, May T, Isaacson AC. StatPearls [Internet] StatPearls Publishing; Treasure Island (FL): 2023. Jul 3, Cervical Myofascial Pain.
    1. Alonso-Blanco C, Fernández-de-las-Peñas C, Morales-Cabezas M, Zarco-Moreno P, Ge HY, Florez-García M. Multiple active myofascial trigger points reproduce the overall spontaneous pain pattern in women with fibromyalgia and are related to widespread mechanical hypersensitivity. Clin J Pain. 2011 Jun;27(5):405-13.
    1. Tornero-Caballero MC, Salom-Moreno J, Cigarán-Méndez M, Morales-Cabezas M, Madeleine P, Fernández-de-Las-Peñas C. Muscle Trigger Points and Pressure Pain Sensitivity Maps of the Feet in Women with Fibromyalgia Syndrome. Pain Med. 2016 Oct;17(10):1923-1932.
    1. Fernández-Pérez AM, Villaverde-Gutiérrez C, Mora-Sánchez A, Alonso-Blanco C, Sterling M, Fernández-de-Las-Peñas C. Muscle trigger points, pressure pain threshold, and cervical range of motion in patients with high level of disability related to acute whiplash injury. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2012 Jul;42(7):634-41.
    1. Maigne JY, Chantelot F, Chatellier G. Interexaminer agreement of clinical examination of the neck in manual medicine. Ann Phys Rehabil Med. 2009 Feb;52(1):41-8.
    1. Kadavkolan AS, Bhatia DN, Dasgupta B, Bhosale PB. Sprengel's deformity of the shoulder: Current perspectives in management. Int J Shoulder Surg. 2011 Jan;5(1):1-8.
    1. Casale J, Geiger Z. StatPearls [Internet] StatPearls Publishing; Treasure Island (FL): 2023. Apr 28, Anatomy, Head and Neck, Posterior Neck Triangle.

Source: PubMed

Sponsorer och medarbetare

Medicinska tillstånd

Läkemedelsinterventioner

3
Prenumerera