Thoracolumbar fascia

Thoracolumbar fascia
Diagram of a transverse section of the posterior abdominal wall, to show the disposition of the lumbodorsal fascia.
Superficial muscles of the back. The thoracolumbar fascia is the gray area at bottom center.
Latin	fascia thoracolumbalis, fascia lumbodorsalis
Gray's	subject #115 397

The thoracolumbar fascia (lumbodorsal fascia) is a deep investing membrane which covers the deep muscles of the back of the trunk. It is made up of three layers, anterior, middle, and posterior. The anterior layer is the thinnest and the posterior layer is the thickest. Two spaces are formed between these three layers of the fascia. Between the anterior and middle layer lies the quadratus lumborum muscle. The erector spinae muscle is enclosed between the middle and posterior layers.

Above, it passes in front of the serratus posterior superior and is continuous with a similar investing layer on the back of the neck—the nuchal fascia.

In the thoracic region the lumbodorsal fascia is a thin fibrous lamina which serves to bind down the Extensor muscles of the vertebral column and to separate them from the muscles connecting the vertebral column to the upper extremity.

It contains both longitudinal and transverse fibers, and is attached, medially, to the spinous processes of the thoracic vertebræ; laterally to the angles of the ribs.

See also

• Fascia
• Erector spinae muscle

External links

• Atlas of anatomy at UMich back_muscles38 - "Thoracolumbar Fascia, Dissection, Posterior View"
• Atlas of anatomy at UMich back_muscles41 - "Trunk, Transverse MRI Showing Lamellae of the Thoracolumbar Fascia"

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.