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Fetal development and growth of the human erector spinae with special reference to attachments on the surface aponeurosis

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Abstract

Purpose

The longissimus (LO) and iliocostalis (IC) of adults consist of myofibers extending from the superolateral to the inferomedial side of the back and, because of the same course, they are fused in the thoracolumbar region. The LO also has a medial attachment to the long myofibers of the transversospinalis (TS) showing a course from the superomedial to the inferolateral side. However, there is apparently no information regarding when and how these similar longitudinal muscles differentiate from a cluster of dorsomedial myotome cells.

Methods

We examined sagittal and horizontal sections of the trunks of 39 human embryos and fetuses (18–330 mm crown-rump length).

Results

At 6–7 weeks gestational age (GA), the surface aponeurosis appeared prior to and independent of the thoracolumbar fascia. At 6–9 weeks GA, the LO myofibers had a postero-inferior course, from the transverse process to the initial aponeurosis, whereas the TS myofibers had a postero-superior course, from a lateral extension of the intertransverse ligament to the aponeurosis. However, the IC consisted of supracostal longitudinal myofibers and was distant from the LO until 12 weeks GA. Because of the lack of ligamentous attachments and ribs, myofibers of the TS, LO, and IC took a similar inferior course in the lumbar region. When the early TS was represented by the transverso-aponeurotic muscle, consequently, the LO corresponded to the aponeuro-transversal muscle and was independent from the IC.

Conclusion

The classical model of TS and LO development does not recognize the essential role of the aponeurosis identified here.

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Abbreviations

AD:

Adrenal

AP:

Erector spinae aponeurosis

CTJ:

Future costotransverse joint

DI:

Diaphragm

DRG:

Dorsal root ganglion

IC:

Iliocostalis muscle

IE:

Intercostalis externus muscle

ISL:

Interspinous ligament

ITL:

Intertransverse ligament

K:

Kidney

L1:

First lumbar vertebra

LD:

Latissimus dorsi muscle

LO:

Longissimus muscle

OE:

Obliquus externus abdominis muscle

OI:

Obliquus abdominis muscle

PS:

Psoas major muscle

pTLF:

Posterior layer of the thoracolumbar fascia

QL:

Quadratus lumborum muscle

SA:

Serratus anterior muscle

Th12:

Twelfth thoracic vertebra

TR:

Trapezius muscle

TS:

Transversospinalis muscles

ZJ:

Zygapophysial joint

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Emeritus Professor of Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan

    Tatsuo Sato

  2. Department of Anatomy, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Geunji-ro 20, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju, Jeonbuk, 54907, Republic of Korea

    Ji Hyun Kim

  3. Department of Neurology, Wonkwang University School of Medicine and Hospital, Institute of Wonkwang Medical Science, Iksan, Korea

    Kwang Ho Cho

  4. Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare, Narita, Japan

    Shogo Hayashi

  5. Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain

    José Francisco Rodríguez-Vázquez

  6. Division of Internal Medicine, Cupid Clinic, Iwamizawa, Hokkaido, Japan

    Gen Murakami

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  1. Tatsuo Sato
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  2. Ji Hyun Kim
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  4. Shogo Hayashi
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Contributions

TS: project development, data analysis, and manuscript writing. JHK: project development, data collection, and manuscript writing. KHC: data collection and critical revision. S Hayashi: data analysis, and critical revision. JFR-V: data analysis and critical revision. GM: project development, data collection and analysis, manuscript writing. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ji Hyun Kim.

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This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University (B08/374).

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Sato, T., Kim, J.H., Cho, K.H. et al. Fetal development and growth of the human erector spinae with special reference to attachments on the surface aponeurosis. Surg Radiol Anat 43, 1503–1517 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-021-02759-w

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