The spine straighteners
Erector spinae · musculus erector spinae
Long columns of muscle on either side of your spine that hold you upright.
What it does
The erector spinae is a group of three long muscle columns that run from the pelvis to the skull, alongside the spine. They straighten the back, bend it backwards and to the side, and slow you down as you bend forward to pick something up.
Surprising fact
When you stand fully bent forward, these muscles go almost silent, and the ligaments of the spine take the load instead, a quirk called the flexion-relaxation phenomenon.
Why it matters
You can feel these columns as the two ridges either side of your lower spine. They are often the muscles that go into spasm after an awkward lift.
Nearby
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Sources
Drafted with AI help; awaiting a human fact-check against these sources.
Open in the 3D atlas · Suggest a correction · Not medical advice.
3D models: Z-Anatomy & BodyParts3D (CC BY-SA 4.0 / 2.1 JP). Card text CC BY 4.0.