💪Latissimus Dorsi

Summary

Origin
  1. Spinous processes of last six thoracic vertebrae
  2. Last three or four ribs
  3. Thoracolumbar fascia
  4. Posterior iliac crest
  5. Inferior angle of scapula; see Variable Attachment to Inferior Angle of Scapula.
Insertion Humerus, intertubercular groove
Actions
  1. Extends the shoulder
  2. Adducts the shoulder
  3. Medially rotates the shoulder

Variable Attachment to Inferior Angle of Scapula

  1. Depends on an individual.
  2. Goldfinger omits this entirely.
  3. Present in medical textbooks.

The latissimus dorsi can have muscular fibers arising from the inferior angle of the scapula (type 1 scapular connection, 43%). Alternatively, there may be only a few fibrous strands between the muscle and the scapula or there may be an intervening bursa (type 2 scapular connection, 57%).

Source: Significance of the latissimus dorsi for shoulder instability. I. Variations in its anatomy around the humerus and scapula

The bursa is a small sac filled with lubricating fluid present in joints of the body.

Source: Kenhub

Goldfinger doesn’t mention this attachment. It discusses the overlap between inferior angle of scapula and latissimus dorsi (LD), and that LD may help depress or rotate scapula. Aligns with the article: The latissimus dorsi creates a dynamic track for the inferior angle of the scapula during arm abduction in humans.

Examples

Anatomical Study of a Male Nude, Leonid Gervits, Year Unknown

References

Anatomy Book (anatomybook.art) © 2025 by Brian Lee is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.