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 where each muscle is primarily located, based on where most of the muscle belly lies.
| 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 capitis | |
| Semispinalis cervicis | |
| Semispinalis thoracis | |
| 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 | Inferior |
| External urethral sphincter | |
| Bulbospongiosus | |
| Ischiocavernosus | |
| External anal sphincter |
Primary Torso Movements and the Muscles Involved
| Movement | Description | Muscles Involved |
|---|---|---|
| Flexion | Bending your torso forward, like when touching your toes | Rectus abdominis, internal obliques, external obliques |
| Extension | Arching your back or bending backward | Erector spinae group |
| Lateral Flexion | Bending your torso to the side, like reaching down your leg.# | Internal obliques, external obliques, quadratus lumborum, erector spinae |
| Rotation | Twisting your upper body to the side, like looking behind you | Internal obliques, external obliques, transversospinales group |
| Stabilization/Compression | Bracing your core to keep your torso steady, like during a plank | Rectus abdominis, external oblique, transversus abdominis, multifidus, pelvic floor 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
