[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Anatomy](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/) › [Spine](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/spine/) › Intertransversarii [Muscular system](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/system/muscular-system/) · [Spine](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/spine/) # Intertransversarii The intertransversarii are small muscles between neighbouring transverse processes; they help bend the spine sideways. Official name: Intertransversarii muscles [See in 3D →](https://durgical.app/?from=durgipedia&lang=en#region=spine&select=intertransversarii&side=r) Opens in the Durgical app, no sign-up needed. ## What it is Small muscles between neighbouring transverse processes. ## What it does Help bend the spine sideways and sense its position. ## Key points - In the neck each level has anterior and posterior slips, and the ventral ramus of the spinal nerve comes out between them - In the lumbar [spine](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/spine/) there are medial slips (dorsal rami) and lateral slips (ventral rami); in most of the thoracic spine they are small or absent ## Key facts **Origin** Transverse process below (cervical: anterior and posterior slips; lumbar: medial and lateral slips) **Insertion** Transverse process of the vertebra above **Action** Assist lateral flexion; stabilise; proprioception **Nerve** Dorsal and ventral rami (posterior cervical and medial lumbar: dorsal rami; anterior cervical and lateral lumbar: ventral rami) **Blood supply** Segmental arteries: vertebral and deep cervical, posterior intercostal, lumbar ## Relations **Medial** Neck: the [vertebral artery](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/vertebral-artery/) climbing through the transverse foramina; lumbar: the facet joints and [multifidus](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/multifidus-muscles/) **Lateral** Lumbar: [quadratus lumborum](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/quadratus-lumborum-muscle/) and [psoas major](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/psoas-major/), attached to the same transverse processes **Contents** Between the cervical slips: the ventral ramus of each spinal nerve, which has just crossed behind the vertebral artery; in the lumbar region the intertransverse membrane with the exiting nerve root in front of it ## How to find it They cannot be felt. In a far-lateral (extraforaminal) lumbar approach they are the thin muscle between two transverse processes, divided with the intertransverse membrane to reach the exiting nerve root. ## On imaging Not seen separately on routine imaging; axial and coronal MRI show the thin soft tissue between neighbouring transverse processes, just outside the foramen. What is assessed there is the exiting nerve root: in a far-lateral (extraforaminal) disc herniation, MRI shows disc material lateral to the foramen pressing on the root in this space. CT shows transverse process fractures nearby. ## Common problems - Shrinks and fills with fat in chronic low back pain, sometimes only at the painful level. - Is stripped or split from the bone in open posterior spine surgery; muscle-sparing approaches try to protect it. ## How it is diagnosed MRI or ultrasound shows its size and fat content. ## Treatment - Targeted exercise (motor control training) to retrain the deep stabilisers. ## Clinical notes - Far-lateral lumbar disc herniation: the muscle and the intertransverse membrane are opened between two transverse processes to reach the compressed exiting root - In lateral exposures of the cervical spine the vertebral artery and the ventral rami lie right at their slips ## Development Short segmental muscles that keep the one-level pattern of the myotomes. Their split nerve supply reflects a double origin: the medial lumbar slips belong to the back (dorsal rami), while the lateral lumbar and anterior cervical slips develop with the body wall (ventral rami). ## Test yourself Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it. ## What emerges between the anterior and posterior cervical slips of the intertransversarii? The ventral ramus of each cervical spinal nerve. ## How are the lumbar intertransversarii supplied? Medial slips by dorsal rami, lateral slips by ventral rami. ## Why are the intertransversarii opened in a far-lateral lumbar disc herniation? Opening them and the intertransverse membrane between two transverse processes reaches the compressed exiting nerve root. [Add to my cards (3)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/anatomy/intertransversarii-muscles/) Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional. ## Its names **Official Latin (TA2)** musculi intertransversarii TA2 2294 **Official Spanish (DeCS)** Músculos intertransversos DeCS D064170 **English (TA2)** Intertransversarii muscles ## Related - [L1 vertebra](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/lumbar-vertebra/) - [L2 vertebra](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/lumbar-vertebra-spine-and-pelvis/) - [L3 vertebra](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/lumbar-vertebra-spine-and-pelvis-l3/) - [L4 vertebra](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/lumbar-vertebra-spine-and-pelvis-l4/) - [L5 vertebra](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/lumbar-vertebra-spine-and-pelvis-l5/) - [T12 vertebra](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/t12/) Sources: Terminologia Anatomica (TA2); [DeCS](https://decs.bvsalud.org/es/ths/resource/?id=55179&filter=ths_termall&q=M%C3%BAsculos%20Paraespinales); [Anatomy, Back](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539746/); Anatomy of the Human Body (20th ed.): Development of the Muscles (Lea & Febiger (Gray's Anatomy, 1918), 1918) · adapted, Public domain; Anatomía humana (4.ª ed.), tomo 1, cap. 19: Músculos del cuello. ## **Spotted a mistake?** We are always improving for the community. Tell us what is wrong and our team will review it. Report a mistake Representative model, for educational purposes only. --- Source: https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/intertransversarii-muscles/ License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/intertransversarii-muscles/