The transversospinales are a group of muscles of the human back. Their combined action is rotation and extension of the vertebral column. These muscles are small and have a poor mechanical advantage for contributing to motion. They include: the three semispinalis muscles, the multifidus muscle, and the rotatores muscles.

The three semispinalis muscles, span 4-6 vertebral segments:

• • semispinalis thoracis
  • semispinalis cervicis
  • semispinalis capitis

The multifidus muscle, and spans 2-4 vertebral segments

The rotatores muscles, lie beneath the multifidus, and spans 1-2 vertebral segments

• • rotatores cervicis
  • rotatores thoracis
  • rotatores lumborum

• Musculoskeletal Interventions: Techniques for Therapeutic exercise. Authors: Michael L. Voight, Barabara J. Hoogenboom, William E. Prentice.