What Is the Levator Scapulae?
The levator scapulae is an upper-back muscle that runs along the side of the neck. Its primary responsibility is to assist the trapezius, the largest and most superficial muscle of the upper back, in shrugging the shoulders. Latin in origin, its name means “elevator of the shoulder blades,” and this muscle is likewise responsible for pulling upward on the inside or medial edge of the scapulae. Situated beneath the trapezius in the upper back, alongside the splenius capitus muscle in the back of the neck, the levator scapulae originates along the spinous processes, sideways protrusions of the first four cervical vertebrae. It then runs vertically down the side of the neck to attach to the upper medial edge of the shoulder blade. This narrow, band-shaped muscle is relatively small, much smaller than the large trapezius muscle, but it performs several complex functions involving the neck, head, and shoulder blades.
