Levatores

Levatores, from the Latin for “elevators,” is a term used in anatomy for several muscles whose primary action is to elevate a body part. The name is applied to diverse muscles across different regions that share the general function of lifting or raising.

Levatores costarum are short muscles in the thorax that originate from the transverse processes of C7 to T11 and insert on the rib below. Their main role is to assist with rib elevation during inspiration. They are innervated by the dorsal rami of the adjacent thoracic spinal nerves and receive blood supply from posterior intercostal arteries.

Levator scapulae lies in the shoulder girdle. It originates from the transverse processes of C1 to C4 and inserts on the superior angle and medial border of the scapula. It elevates the scapula and can contribute to downward rotation of the scapula. Innervation is primarily by the dorsal scapular nerve (with possible contributions from cervical nerves), and blood supply comes from branches of the transverse cervical and dorsal scapular arteries.

Levator ani is a key component of the pelvic floor. It comprises several muscles (including puborectalis, pubococcygeus, and iliococcygeus) that arise from the pelvic floor and insert into midline structures and the coccyx. Its actions include supporting pelvic viscera and maintaining continence. It is innervated by branches of the pudendal nerve and sacral plexus, with blood supplied by pelvic vessels such as the internal pudendal arteries.

Levator veli palatini is a muscle of the soft palate. It muscles originates near the auditory tube and the petrous part of the temporal bone and inserts into the palatine aponeurosis. It elevates the soft palate during swallowing and speaking and helps equalize the middle ear via the auditory tube; innervation is through the pharyngeal plexus via the vagus nerve (CN X).