Muscles Associated with the Spleen

Most of the muscles associated with the spleen are in the back of the body and indicate that healthy back muscles also support a healthy digestive system as well as a healthy spine.

Latissimus Dorsi

The Latissimus Dorsi is a powerful muscle in the lower and middle back. It originates at a number of different locations—the lumber vertebrae, the lower six thoracic vertebrae, the iliac crest, the sacrum, the lower 3 or 4 ribs and the inferior angle of the scapula. It wraps around the lower and middle back to attach itself to the inertubercular groove of the humerus.

Middle & Lower Trapezius

This picture shows the whole trapezius muscle. It can be broken down into the upper, middle and lower trapezius. The middle trapezius originates at the spinous process of C7, T1, T2 & T3 and attaches to the medial and upper border of the scapula. The lower trapezius originates from the spinous process of T4-T12 and attaches to the inferior medial border of the scapula.

Triceps Brachii

The triceps are known as the “3 headed arm muscle” due to the muscle having 3 different origin points. The longest head of muscle originates from the infraglenoid tubercle of the scapula. The middle head originates from the dorsal surface of the humerus and the third head originates in close proximity to the middle head as it also originates on the back of the humerus bone from the greater tubercle down to the region of the lateral intermuscular septum.

Opponens Pollicis Longus

This muscle is found on in the inside of the palm and acts to flex the thumb towards the little finger. It originates on the tubercle of the trapezium bone and the flexor retinaculum and inserts onto the anterior and lateral surfaces of the shaft of the first metacarpal bone.