Skip to main content
Fig. 1 | BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Fig. 1

From: A guide for standardized interpretation of lumbar multifidus ultrasonography; an observational study

Fig. 1

(S3-J). Consecutive transverse cross-sections of the lumbosacral spine perpendicular to the skin from S3 to intervertebral disc L1-2 (see inset at bottom right). From its sacral origin up to the level of the posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS) the lumbar multifidus (LM) is the only dorsal muscle present (Fig. S3-A). At the level of the PSIS lateral to LM the erector spinae (ES) originates from the medial sides of PSIS and adjacent iliac crest (IC), and from the dorsal ligaments of the sacro-iliac joint (SI-J) (Fig. A-C). Cranial to halfway the spinous process of L5 (SpPL5, Fig. C) ES-width is larger than that of LM (Fig. D-J). LM can be detected superficially caudal to the level of intervertebral disc L3-4 (Fig. G), and is deep to the ES cranial to body L3 (Fig. H). GM = Gluteus Maximus; QL = Quadratus Lumborum. S2, S3, L5, L4, L3: vertebral body S2, 3, L3-5; L5/S1, L4/L5, L3/L4 and L2/L3 refer to the facet joints. Bar represents 10 mm

Back to article page