A trapezius muscle lesion would affect which location?

A trapezius muscle lesion would affect which location?

• A. Knee
• B. Neck
• C. Hand
• D. Low Back

Answer: (B)

The trapezius sits in the upper back and posterior neck, attaching to the skull, the cervical and upper thoracic spine, and to the scapula and clavicle. A lesion in this muscle disrupts movements of the neck and the shoulder girdle, since the upper fibers help extend and rotate the neck and the whole muscle stabilizes and moves the scapula. Therefore, the neck region would be affected. The knee, hand, and low back aren’t primarily governed by the trapezius, so those locations aren’t typically impacted by a trapezius lesion.

The trapezius sits in the upper back and posterior neck, attaching to the skull, the cervical and upper thoracic spine, and to the scapula and clavicle. A lesion in this muscle disrupts movements of the neck and the shoulder girdle, since the upper fibers help extend and rotate the neck and the whole muscle stabilizes and moves the scapula. Therefore, the neck region would be affected. The knee, hand, and low back aren’t primarily governed by the trapezius, so those locations aren’t typically impacted by a trapezius lesion.