Anatomy Review: The Erector Spinae System

Origin: Sacrum and iliac crest of pelvis, Insertion: All ribs, transverse and spinous processes of all vertebrae up to C2; mastoid process of the temporal bone, Action: Bilateral: extension of the spine, (Excessive – lumbar and cervical lordosis; thoracic kyphosis), Unilateral: lateral flexion (Excessive – scoliosis), Antagonist: Rectus abdominis (or gravity) The erector spinae is more a…

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Anatomy Review: Levator Scapula, The Saga

Origin: C3-5 Insertion: Superior angle of the scapula  Action: Lifts scapula and/or extends the neck (Excessive:“Knot” or upper scapula) Antagonist: Inferior fibers of trapezius The levator scapula is a cable-like muscle that is usually overworked by our tendency to hunch our shoulders up. In the life of the levator scapula, this means it’s constantly tugging on the superior angle…

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Anatomy Review: Latissimus Dorsi

by David Lauterstein Origin: sacrum, iliac crest, L5-T7, R 10-12, inferior angle of scapula, Insertion: Intertubercular grove of humerus, Action: Extension,medial rotation of humerus, adduction of humerus, depression of shoulder girdle, lower fibers depress ribcage, especially in coughing. Just as it may be said that we reach out from our guts –insofar as pectoralis major…

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Anatomy Article: Quadriceps

By David Lauterstein Origin:Rectus femoris: Anterior inferior iliac spine; Vastus lateralis and medialis: Linea aspera; Vastus Intermedius: Lateral and anterior surface of femur, Insertion:Tibial tuberosity (via patella ligament), Action:Rectus femoris: hip flexion, knee extension (Excessive: compression of hip) The“Vasti:” knee extension (Excessive: patellar subluxation), Antagonist: Hamstrings The quadriceps always have struck me as being rather…

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Physiology of Bliss, Part One

“Our most sacred convictions, the unchanging elements of our supreme values, are judgments of our muscles.” Nietzsche Muscles aren’t mostly for movement. We sense with them. We sense with our muscles and their nerves. Through them we’re aware of the location of our body parts in space; we sense pressure; we sense the amount of…

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Anatomy Review: Gluteus Medius and Minimus

by David Lauterstein Origin – Medius: Anterior gluteal line of ilium, Minimus: Inferior gluteal line of ilium Insertion – Greater trochanter of femur Action – Flexion of extension; medial or lateral rotation and abduction of thigh Antagonist – Adductor magnus According to some theories of posture, in a healthy body one should be able to…

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Anatomy Review: Hamstrings

by David Lauterstein, LMT Origin: Ischial tuberosity; medial 1/3 linea aspera (short head of biceps femoris) Insertion: Semimembranosus: medial condyle of tibia, Semitendonosus: proximal, antero-medial aspect of tibia, Biceps Femoris: head of fibula Action: Extention of hip, flexion of knee, medial or lateral rotation of lower leg, (Excessive: Hyperextended knee) Antagonist: Quadriceps These interesting muscles…

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Homage to the Feet: Part Two

by David Lauterstein Here are some ways you can use touch to respect these little miracles: Massage: There are 4 layers of muscle on the bottom of the feet. Considering the compression from bearing the body’s weight and the lack of movement from being continually shod, and the impact of walking and exercising so often…

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Homage to the Feet: Part One

by David Lauterstein There are 206 bones in the body, 52 of them are in the feet! It’s amazing that these two small yet marvelously engineered structures can support our entire weight without being crushed or giving way. It’s little short of miraculous that they also constantly balance out the infinite varieties of motion going on…

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Anatomy Review: Masseter

by David Lauterstein The masseter is the muscle runs from the cheekbone to the lower jaw. It is one of the primary muscles you chew with. It is helped by the “Dirty Harry” muscle – the temporalis – which runs from the side of the skull to the lower jaw just in front of your ear. Interestingly…

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