Which muscle originates from the spinous processes of C7 to T12?

• A. Trapezius.
• B. Latissimus dorsi.
• C. Rhomboid major.
• D. Teres major.

Answer: (A)

Muscle attachments along the spine shape how the back moves the shoulder. The muscle that starts from the spinous processes of C7 through T12 has a broad spinal origin that matches trapezius. Trapezius originates along the midline from the lower cervical to the upper lumbar region (C7–T12) and then inserts on the clavicle, acromion, and spine of the scapula, enabling movements like elevation, retraction, and depression of the scapula.

Latissimus dorsi, by contrast, begins lower down—primarily from T7–L5 spinous processes and thoracolumbar fascia, plus iliac crest and lower ribs—so it does not include the C7 level in its spinous-process origin. Rhomboid major comes from T2–T5, and teres major from the scapula, not from the spinous processes of the spine.