Anatomy / Muscles

Quadratus lumborum muscle

Muscles ยท part of Muscles of abdomen

The quadratus lumborum muscle, informally called the QL, is a paired muscle of the left and right posterior abdominal wall. It is the deepest abdominal muscle, and commonly referred to as a back muscle. Each muscle of the pair is an irregular quadrilateral in shape, hence the name. The quadratus lumborum muscles originate from the wings of the ilium; their insertions are on the transverse processes of the upper four lumbar vertebrae plus the lower posterior border of the twelfth rib. Contraction of one of the pair of muscles causes lateral flexion of the lumbar spine, elevation of the pelvis, or both. Contraction of both causes extension of the lumbar spine. A disorder of the quadratus lumbo (Wikipedia)