Skip to main content
PMC home page
Journal of Anatomy logoLink to Journal of Anatomy
. 1997 Jun;190(Pt 4):505–513. doi: 10.1046/j.1469-7580.1997.19040505.x

Muscle fibre size and type distribution in thoracic and lumbar regions of erector spinae in healthy subjects without low back pain: normal values and sex differences

A F MANNION 1 , G A DUMAS 2 , R G COOPER 3 , F J ESPINOSA 2 , M W FARIS 2 , J M STEVENSON 2
PMCID: PMC1467636  PMID: 9183674

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the normal muscle fibre size and type distribution of the human erector spinae, both in thoracic and lumbar regions, in a group of 31 young healthy male (n=17) and female (n=14) volunteers. Two percutaneous muscle biopsy samples were obtained under local anaesthesia, from the belly of the left erector spinae, at the levels of the 10th thoracic and 3rd lumbar vertebrae. Samples were prepared for routine histochemistry for the identification of fibre types. Fibre size (cross-sectional area (CSA) and narrow diameter (ND)) was quantified using computerised image analysis. The mean CSA/ND for each fibre type was greater in the thoracic than the lumbar region, but there was no difference between the 2 regions either for percentage type I (i.e. percentage distribution by number), percentage type I area (i.e. relative area of the muscle occupied by type I fibres) or the ratio describing the size of the type I fibre relative to that of the type II. Men had larger fibres than women, for each fibre type and at both sampling sites. In the men, each fibre type was of a similar mean size, whereas in the women the type I fibres were considerably larger than both the type II A and type II B fibres, with no difference between the latter two. In both regions of the erector spinae there was no difference between men and women for the proportion (%) of a given fibre type, but the percentage type I fibre area was significantly higher in the women.

The erector spinae display muscle fibre characteristics which are clearly very different from those of other skeletal muscles, and which, with their predominance of relatively large type I (slow twitch) fibres, befit their function as postural muscles. Differences between thoracic and lumbar fascicles of the muscle, and between the muscles of men and women, may reflect adaptive responses to differences in function. In assessing the degree of any pathological change in the muscle of patients with low back pain, it seems clear that (1) sex cannot be disregarded and (2) ‘atrophied’ (using the criteria from other muscles) type II fibres are not necessarily abnormal for the erector spinae, particularly in women.

Keywords: Erector spinae muscles, fibre typing

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (221.3 KB).

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Alaranta H., Luoto S., Heliövaara M., Hurri H. Static back endurance and the risk of low-back pain. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 1995 Sep;10(6):323–324. doi: 10.1016/0268-0033(95)00002-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bagnall K. M., Ford D. M., McFadden K. D., Greenhill B. J., Raso V. J. The histochemical composition of human vertebral muscle. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 1984 Jul-Aug;9(5):470–473. doi: 10.1097/00007632-198407000-00009. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Biering-Sørensen F. Physical measurements as risk indicators for low-back trouble over a one-year period. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 1984 Mar;9(2):106–119. doi: 10.1097/00007632-198403000-00002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Bogduk N., Macintosh J. E., Pearcy M. J. A universal model of the lumbar back muscles in the upright position. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 1992 Aug;17(8):897–913. doi: 10.1097/00007632-199208000-00007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Bylund P., Jansson E., Dahlberg E., Eriksson E. Muscle fiber types in thoracic erector spinae muscles. Fiber types in idiopathic and other forms of scoliosis. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1987 Jan;(214):222–228. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Cooper R. G., St Clair Forbes W., Jayson M. I. Radiographic demonstration of paraspinal muscle wasting in patients with chronic low back pain. Br J Rheumatol. 1992 Jun;31(6):389–394. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/31.6.389. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Cooper R. G., Stokes M. J., Sweet C., Taylor R. J., Jayson M. I. Increased central drive during fatiguing contractions of the paraspinal muscles in patients with chronic low back pain. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 1993 Apr;18(5):610–616. doi: 10.1097/00007632-199304000-00014. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. De Luca C. J. Use of the surface EMG signal for performance evaluation of back muscles. Muscle Nerve. 1993 Feb;16(2):210–216. doi: 10.1002/mus.880160216. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Dietrichson P., Coakley J., Smith P. E., Griffiths R. D., Helliwell T. R., Edwards R. H. Conchotome and needle percutaneous biopsy of skeletal muscle. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1987 Nov;50(11):1461–1467. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.50.11.1461. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Durnin J. V., Womersley J. Body fat assessed from total body density and its estimation from skinfold thickness: measurements on 481 men and women aged from 16 to 72 years. Br J Nutr. 1974 Jul;32(1):77–97. doi: 10.1079/bjn19740060. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Fidler M. W., Jowett R. L., Troup J. D. Myosin ATPase activity in multifidus muscle from cases of lumbar spinal derangement. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1975 May;57(2):220–227. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Ford D., Bagnall K. M., McFadden K. D., Greenhill B., Raso J. Analysis of vertebral muscle obtained during surgery for correction of a lumbar disc disorder. Acta Anat (Basel) 1983;116(2):152–157. doi: 10.1159/000145737. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Goldspink G. Malleability of the motor system: a comparative approach. J Exp Biol. 1985 Mar;115:375–391. doi: 10.1242/jeb.115.1.375. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Guth L., Samaha F. J. Procedure for the histochemical demonstration of actomyosin ATPase. Exp Neurol. 1970 Aug;28(2):365–367. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. JOSEPH J., McCOLL I. Electromyography of muscles of posture: posterior vertebral muscles in males. J Physiol. 1961 Jun;157:33–37. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1961.sp006703. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Johnson M. A., Polgar J., Weightman D., Appleton D. Data on the distribution of fibre types in thirty-six human muscles. An autopsy study. J Neurol Sci. 1973 Jan;18(1):111–129. doi: 10.1016/0022-510x(73)90023-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Jørgensen K., Nicholaisen T., Kato M. Muscle fiber distribution, capillary density, and enzymatic activities in the lumbar paravertebral muscles of young men. Significance for isometric endurance. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 1993 Sep 1;18(11):1439–1450. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Kawaguchi Y., Matsui H., Tsuji H. Back muscle injury after posterior lumbar spine surgery. A histologic and enzymatic analysis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 1996 Apr 15;21(8):941–944. doi: 10.1097/00007632-199604150-00007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Kawaguchi Y., Matsui H., Tsuji H. Back muscle injury after posterior lumbar spine surgery. Part 2: Histologic and histochemical analyses in humans. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 1994 Nov 15;19(22):2598–2602. doi: 10.1097/00007632-199411001-00018. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Mannion A. F., Dolan P. Electromyographic median frequency changes during isometric contraction of the back extensors to fatigue. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 1994 Jun 1;19(11):1223–1229. doi: 10.1097/00007632-199405310-00006. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Mannion A. F., Jakeman P. M., Willan P. L. Skeletal muscle buffer value, fibre type distribution and high intensity exercise performance in man. Exp Physiol. 1995 Jan;80(1):89–101. doi: 10.1113/expphysiol.1995.sp003837. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Mattila M., Hurme M., Alaranta H., Paljärvi L., Kalimo H., Falck B., Lehto M., Einola S., Järvinen M. The multifidus muscle in patients with lumbar disc herniation. A histochemical and morphometric analysis of intraoperative biopsies. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 1986 Sep;11(7):732–738. doi: 10.1097/00007632-198609000-00013. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Nicolaisen T., Jørgensen K. Trunk strength, back muscle endurance and low-back trouble. Scand J Rehabil Med. 1985;17(3):121–127. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Polgar J., Johnson M. A., Weightman D., Appleton D. Data on fibre size in thirty-six human muscles. An autopsy study. J Neurol Sci. 1973 Jul;19(3):307–318. doi: 10.1016/0022-510x(73)90094-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Rall J. A. Energetic aspects of skeletal muscle contraction: implications of fiber types. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 1985;13:33–74. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Rantanen J., Hurme M., Falck B., Alaranta H., Nykvist F., Lehto M., Einola S., Kalimo H. The lumbar multifidus muscle five years after surgery for a lumbar intervertebral disc herniation. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 1993 Apr;18(5):568–574. doi: 10.1097/00007632-199304000-00008. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Rantanen J., Rissanen A., Kalimo H. Lumbar muscle fiber size and type distribution in normal subjects. Eur Spine J. 1994;3(6):331–335. doi: 10.1007/BF02200146. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Rissanen A., Kalimo H., Alaranta H. Effect of intensive training on the isokinetic strength and structure of lumbar muscles in patients with chronic low back pain. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 1995 Feb 1;20(3):333–340. doi: 10.1097/00007632-199502000-00014. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Roy S. H., De Luca C. J., Casavant D. A. Lumbar muscle fatigue and chronic lower back pain. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 1989 Sep;14(9):992–1001. doi: 10.1097/00007632-198909000-00014. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Roy S. H., De Luca C. J., Emley M., Buijs R. J. Spectral electromyographic assessment of back muscles in patients with low back pain undergoing rehabilitation. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 1995 Jan 1;20(1):38–48. doi: 10.1097/00007632-199501000-00008. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Roy S. H., De Luca C. J., Snyder-Mackler L., Emley M. S., Crenshaw R. L., Lyons J. P. Fatigue, recovery, and low back pain in varsity rowers. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1990 Aug;22(4):463–469. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Schantz P., Fox E. R., Norgren P., Tydén A. The relationship between the mean muscle fibre area and the muscle cross-sectional area of the thigh in subjects with large differences in thigh girth. Acta Physiol Scand. 1981 Dec;113(4):537–539. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-1716.1981.tb06934.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Sihvonen T., Herno A., Paljärvi L., Airaksinen O., Partanen J., Tapaninaho A. Local denervation atrophy of paraspinal muscles in postoperative failed back syndrome. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 1993 Apr;18(5):575–581. doi: 10.1097/00007632-199304000-00009. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Sirca A., Kostevc V. The fibre type composition of thoracic and lumbar paravertebral muscles in man. J Anat. 1985 Aug;141:131–137. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Spencer G. S., Zorab P. A. Spinal muscle in scoliosis. Part 1. Histology and histochemistry. J Neurol Sci. 1976 Nov;30(1):137–142. doi: 10.1016/0022-510x(76)90261-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Thorstensson A., Carlson H. Fibre types in human lumbar back muscles. Acta Physiol Scand. 1987 Oct;131(2):195–202. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-1716.1987.tb08226.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Wong-Riley M. Changes in the visual system of monocularly sutured or enucleated cats demonstrable with cytochrome oxidase histochemistry. Brain Res. 1979 Jul 27;171(1):11–28. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(79)90728-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Wright J., Herbert M. A., Velazquez R., Bobechko W. P. Morphologic and histochemical characteristics of skeletal muscle after long-term intramuscular electrical stimulation. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 1992 Jul;17(7):767–770. doi: 10.1097/00007632-199207000-00007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Yarom R., Robin G. C. Studies on spinal and peripheral muscles from patients with scoliosis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 1979 Jan-Feb;4(1):12–21. doi: 10.1097/00007632-197901000-00003. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Zetterberg C., Aniansson A., Grimby G. Morphology of the paravertebral muscles in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 1983 Jul-Aug;8(5):457–462. doi: 10.1097/00007632-198307000-00003. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  41. Zhu X. Z., Parnianpour M., Nordin M., Kahanovitz N. Histochemistry and morphology of erector spinae muscle in lumbar disc herniation. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 1989 Apr;14(4):391–397. doi: 10.1097/00007632-198904000-00008. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Anatomy are provided here courtesy of Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland

RESOURCES