Peripheral nerves5 min read

Medial branches of the dorsal rami

The paraspinal strips immediately lateral to the spinous processes, and their segmental regularity.

A regular paraspinal column

Each spinal nerve divides into a ventral and a dorsal ramus. The dorsal ramus turns backwards and divides again; its medial branch supplies the deep paraspinal musculature and a narrow strip of overlying skin.

Because this arrangement repeats at every level, the paraspinal column is one of the most regular surface patterns in the body.

Bilateral reading

The column is naturally paired, which is why educational visualisations of paraspinal activity are presented bilaterally — left and right of the midline, level by level.

Related formulations

In the atlas

Functional EMG Mapping

Educational reference material. Nothing in the Knowledge Center is medical advice, and no therapeutic effect is claimed or implied.

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Related knowledge

Structures, formulations and documentation connected to this article.

Formulation

FormulationTLO DUOThoracolumbar transition concept for the mid-to-lower back application field.→FormulationCTO DUOCervicothoracic zone concept, developed for the transition between neck and upper back.→

Peripheral nerve

Peripheral nerveMedial branches of the dorsal ramiC2–S4 — Paraspinal surface strips immediately lateral to the spinous processes.→Peripheral nerveGreater occipital nerveC2 (dorsal ramus) — Posterior scalp from the superior nuchal line toward the vertex.→Peripheral nerveLesser occipital nerveC2–C3 — Lateral occipital scalp and superior auricular surface.→Peripheral nerveThird occipital nerveC3 (dorsal ramus) — Suboccipital surface and upper cervical midline.→Peripheral nerveGreat auricular nerveC2–C3 — Angle of the mandible, parotid surface and lower auricle.→Peripheral nerveSupraclavicular nervesC3–C4 — Lower neck, clavicular line and upper pectoral surface.→

Knowledge article

Knowledge articleDermatomes: the segmental map of the skinHow the body surface is organised into segmental bands, and why those bands are a useful design language.→Knowledge articleMetameric organisation from C0 to S5The metamer as an organising unit: one segment, one dermatome, one myotome, one surface field.→Knowledge articleHow we work: method and evidenceOur development discipline, the limits of what we claim, and how educational models are used.→

Research

ResearchFunctional EMG MappingEducational bilateral spinal visualisation alongside the medial branches of the dorsal rami.→