What is the trapezius?
It is called the trapezius. Gray's Anatomy (1918) describes it as a large, kite-shaped superficial muscle of the upper back and neck.
What it is
- A large, kite-shaped superficial muscle of the upper back and neck.
- Named for the four-sided figure formed by the pair of muscles together.
- Elevates, retracts, and rotates the scapula.
Where it is
- Across the top of the shoulders and down the middle of the upper back.
- Arises from the skull, ligamentum nuchae, and thoracic vertebrae.
- Inserts into the clavicle, acromion, and spine of the scapula.
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Last verified: 2026-07-18
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