semispinalis

noun

semi·​spi·​na·​lis -ˌspī-ˈnā-ləs How to pronounce semispinalis (audio)
plural semispinales -ˌlēz How to pronounce semispinalis (audio)
: any of three muscles of the cervical and thoracic parts of the spinal column that arise from transverse processes of the vertebrae and pass to spinous processes higher up and that help to form a layer underneath the sacrospinalis muscle:

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Cite this Entry

“Semispinalis.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/semispinalis. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

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