Erector Spinae
Musculi erector spinae
The erector spinae is a group of three muscle columns (iliocostalis, longissimus, spinalis) running either side of the spine from the sacrum to the skull. They extend and laterally flex the spine and, just as importantly, resist flexion to keep the trunk rigid under load. They are heavily trained by deadlifts, good mornings, back extensions, and any braced hinge, and are central to posterior-chain and spinal-stability strength.
- Actions
- Spinal extension, Lateral flexion of the trunk (unilateral), Trunk rotation (unilateral), Controls flexion eccentrically, Maintains upright posture
- Origin
- Common tendon from the sacrum, iliac crest, spinous processes of lumbar and lower thoracic vertebrae, and supraspinous ligament
- Insertion
- Ribs, transverse and spinous processes of thoracic and cervical vertebrae, and mastoid process of the temporal bone
- Innervation
- Posterior rami of spinal nerves (segmental)
- Blood supply
- Posterior intercostal, subcostal, lumbar, and lateral sacral arteries
- Heads
- Iliocostalis, Longissimus, Spinalis
Synergists MultifidusQuadratus LumborumGluteus Maximus
Exercises (48)
Trains as a primary mover
- Back Extension
- Deadlift
- Deficit Deadlift
- Dumbbell Farmers Carry
- Farmers Carry
- Good Morning
- Rack Pull
- Sumo Deadlift
- Trap-Bar Deadlift
- Trap-Bar Farmers Carry
Assists in
- Ab Wheel Rollout
- Barbell Bent-Over Row
- Barbell Lunge
- Box Squat
- Clean and Jerk
- Clean High Pull
- Dumbbell Power Clean
- Dumbbell Snatch
- Front Plank
- Front Squat
- Glute Bridge
- Goblet Squat
- Hang Clean
- Hang Power Clean
- Hang Snatch
- Hang Squat Clean
- High Pull
- High-Bar Back Squat
- Kettlebell Swing
- Low-Bar Back Squat
- Muscle Snatch
- Nordic Hamstring Curl
- Overhead Squat
- Pendlay Row
- Plank
- Power Clean
- Power Clean and Jerk
- Power Snatch
- Romanian Deadlift
- Row
- Russian Twist
- Seated Cable Row
- Single-Leg Deadlift
- Snatch
- Snatch-Grip High Pull
- Squat
- Stiff-Leg Deadlift
- T-Bar Row