Rotatores are innervated by which nerves?

• A. Ventral rami of spinal nerves
• B. Cranial nerves
• C. Dorsal rami of spinal nerves
• D. Sympathetic trunk

Answer: (C)

Rotatores are part of the deep intrinsic back muscles (transversospinales) that run along the vertebral column and help stabilize and move the spine. Their motor supply comes from the dorsal rami of the spinal nerves, which provide somatic innervation to the intrinsic back muscles and the associated sensory innervation to the skin of the back. The ventral rami mainly innervate the anterior and lateral trunk and the limbs, not these deep back muscles. Cranial nerves don’t reach the intrinsic back muscles, and the sympathetic trunk carries autonomic (not skeletal muscle) fibers.