Serratus posterior superior muscle

Serratus posterior superior muscle
Thin film-like object, at center, is serratus posterior superior muscle.
Details
Origin	Nuchal ligament (or ligamentum nuchae) and the spinous processes of the vertebrae C7 through T3
Insertion	The upper borders of the 2nd through 5th ribs
Artery	Intercostal arteries
Nerve	2nd through 5th intercostal nerves
Actions
Identifiers
Latin	Musculus serratus posterior superior
TA	A04.3.01.011
FMA	13401
Anatomical terms of muscle []

The serratus posterior superior is a thin, quadrilateral muscle, situated at the upper and back part of the thorax, deep to the rhomboid muscles.

It arises by a thin and broad aponeurosis from the lower part of the ligamentum nuchae, from the spinous processes of the seventh cervical and upper two or three thoracic vertebrae and from the supraspinal ligament.

Inclining downward and lateralward it becomes muscular, and is inserted, by four fleshy digitations, into the upper borders of the second, third, fourth, and fifth ribs, a little beyond their angles.

The function of serratus posterior superior is to elevate second to fifth ribs, which aids deep inspiration.

Position of serratus posterior superior muscle (shown in red).

Serratus posterior superior muscles are labeled at center left and center right.

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)