11. Latissimus Dorsi

Origin: Spinous process of lower 6 thoracic vertebrae and related interspinous ligaments, inferior 3-4 ribs, thoracolumbar fascia and iliac crest

Insertion: Floor of the intertubercular groove of the humerus

Action:

  • Shoulder extension
  • Shoulder medial rotation
  • Shoulder adduction
  • Raises the torso during climbing
  • Role in lumbar stabilization

Innervation: Thoracodorsal nerve (C6/7/8)

Muscles connecting the upper extremity to the vertebral column.
Figure 1.27 Latissimus dorsi, adapted by Mikael Häggström from the original image by Henry Gray and Henry Vandyke Carter (Public domain).

Needling

Position: Prone or supine

Palpation: Palpate the bulk of this muscle in the subaxilla space when the arm is abducted

Technique: Pick up the bulk of this muscle and pull it away from the ribcage – Needle in an anterolateral direction when in prone and a posterior lateral direction when in supine

Caution: Moderate – never needle in a medial direction due to the position of the lung field

Needling latissimus dors.
Figure 1.28 Needling latissimus dors, original image by Nadine Crocker, CC BY-NC 4.0.

Video 1.16 Needling latissimus dorsi, original video by Nadine Crocker, CC BY-NC 4.0.

License

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Sinew Channel Needling Copyright © 2026 by Nadine Crocker is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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