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Serratus posterior inferior: anatomy, location and function

A thin muscle of the lower back deep to latissimus dorsi. Draws the lower ribs downward and backward; its role is minor and may be largely proprioceptive.

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Highlighted in the model: Serratus posterior inferior. Click any part to read about it, or switch off “Highlight topic” to see the whole body. 3D data: BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science, CC BY 4.0; meshes simplified and recoloured. The model is an adult male.

Serratus posterior inferior at a glance

What it is
A thin muscle of the lower back deep to latissimus dorsi.
Location
Originates from the spinous processes of T11 to L2 via the thoracolumbar fascia and inserts onto the inferior borders of ribs 9 to 12.
Function
Draws the lower ribs downward and backward; its role is minor and may be largely proprioceptive.
Body system
Muscular · paired (left and right)
FMA ID
FMA13405 (Foundational Model of Anatomy)

Key facts

  • Innervation: ventral rami of T9–T12 (intercostal and subcostal nerves)
  • The serratus posterior muscles form the intermediate layer of the back, between the superficial (shoulder) muscles and the deep erector spinae.

Structures next to the serratus posterior inferior

The nearest named structures in the 3D model, measured from the centre of each part:

References

  1. Foundational Model of Anatomy: Serratus posterior inferior (FMA13405). EMBL-EBI Ontology Lookup Service.
  2. OpenStax. Anatomy and Physiology 2e, §11.2 Naming Skeletal Muscles. Rice University, 2022.
  3. Mitsuhashi N. et al. (2009). BodyParts3D: 3D structure database for anatomical concepts. Nucleic Acids Research 37, D782–D785. Data © The Database Center for Life Science, CC BY 4.0.

Related anatomy

Explore the whole body in the interactive 3D human anatomy model, or browse the A–Z list of human structures.