Corpus: Multifidi muscles

The multifidi muscles are skeletal muscles that are part of the back musculature. They belong to the medial tract of the erector spinae muscle group.

The multifidi muscles extend from the transverse processes in the thoracic spine to the spinous processes of the higher vertebrae. In the cervical spine, they originate from the superior articular processes, while in the lumbar spine, they originate from the mammillary processes. The areas of origin also extend to neighboring vertebral bodies, and in the caudal region, they attach to the sacrum, the posterior sacroiliac ligament, and the iliac crest.

The deeper fibers of the multifidi muscles skip two vertebrae, while the superficial fibers can skip up to five vertebral levels. The multifidi muscles extend caudally to the sacrum and attach cranially to the caudal surface of the second cervical vertebra.

The multifidi muscles are innervated by the medial branches of the posterior branch from the respective segmental spinal nerves.

The multifidi muscles have different functions depending on how they contract. When they contract unilaterally, they rotate the spine to the opposite side and cause lateral flexion to the same side. Bilateral contraction of the multifidi muscles results in the extension of the relevant section of the spinal column.

Targeted training of the multifidi muscles, particularly through physiotherapy, is crucial after surgical interventions for herniated discs. Strengthening these muscles is essential for regaining and improving the stability of the affected spinal segments.