Torso Muscles
The torso or trunk is the largest and central part of the human body, to which the neck and limbs attach. It includes the chest, abdomen, back, pelvis, and perineum, and houses most of the body’s major organs, such as the heart, lungs, intestines, liver, and reproductive organs. In fact, the brain is the only major organ not located within the torso.
The muscles in the torso are involved in almost all vital functions, from movement and postural stability to respiration, protection of the internal organs, and even continence.
List of the Muscles That Form the Torso
Torso Muscles
Here is a list of the muscles that form the torso, along with the side where each muscle is primarily located, based on where most of its muscle belly is found.
| Muscles | Position in Torso |
|---|---|
| Chest | |
| Pectoralis major* | Anterior |
| Pectoralis minor | |
| Subclavius | |
| Transversus thoracis | |
| Diaphragm | |
| Internal intercostals | Lateral |
| External intercostals | |
| Innermost intercostals | |
| Serratus anterior | |
| Levatores costarum | Posterior |
| Subcostals | |
| Abdomen | |
| Rectus abdominis* | Anterior |
| Pyramidalis | |
| Psoas major | |
| Psoas minor | |
| Iliacus | |
| Iliopsoas | |
| External oblique* | Lateral |
| Internal oblique | |
| Transversus abdominis | |
| Quadratus lumborum | Posterior |
| Back | |
| Trapezius* | Posterior |
| Rhomboid major | |
| Rhomboid minor | |
| Levator scapulae | |
| Splenius capitis | |
| Splenius cervicis | |
| Semispinalis | |
| Rotatores | |
| Latissimus dorsi* | |
| Spinalis | |
| Longissimus | |
| Iliocostalis | |
| Serratus posterior superior | |
| Serratus posterior inferior | |
| Multifidus | |
| Interspinales | |
| Intertransversarii | |
| Pelvic Floor | |
| Iliococcygeus | Inferior |
| Pubococcygeus | |
| Puborectalis | |
| Coccygeus | |
| Perineum | |
| Transverse perineal muscles | Inferior |
| External urethral sphincter | |
| Bulbospongiosus | |
| Ischiocavernosus | |
| External anal sphincter |
Muscles Involved in Torso Movement & Postural Stability
The table below shows the primary muscles that help move the torso or keep it stable to maintain posture:
| Movement | Description | Muscles Involved |
|---|---|---|
| Flexion | Bend forward to touch your toe | Rectus abdominis |
| Internal oblique | ||
| External oblique | ||
| Psoas Major | ||
| Psoas Minor | ||
| Extension | Arch backward | Spinalis |
| Longissimus | ||
| Iliocostalis | ||
| Multifidus | ||
| Semispinalis | ||
| Interspinales | ||
| Quadratus Lumborum | ||
| Lateral Flexion | Side-bend to reach down your leg | Quadratus lumborum |
| Internal oblique | ||
| External oblique | ||
| Erector spinae | ||
| Spinalis | ||
| Longissimus | ||
| Iliocostalis | ||
| Rotation | Twist to look behind you | Rotatores |
| External oblique | ||
| Internal oblique | ||
| Multifidus | ||
| Stabilization | Brace the core (plank/holding posture) | Transversus abdominis |
| Internal oblique | ||
| External oblique | ||
| Multifidus | ||
| Pelvic floor muscles | ||
| Rectus Abdominis | ||
| Diaphragm | ||
| Spinalis | ||
| Longissimus | ||
| Iliocostalis | ||
| Quadratus Lumborum |
Torso muscles do more than move the spine, as they also support functions like breathing (diaphragm and intercostals) and continence (pelvic floor and perineal muscles).
References
- Muscles of the Torso: ScienceDirect.com
- Muscles of the Trunk:Kenhub.com
- Anterior Muscles: Libretexts.org
- Muscles of the Anterior Trunk: Libretexts.org
- Muscles of the Trunk: Training.Seer.Cancer.gov
