Triangular muscle that lines both sides of the spine from hips to mid back, seen posterior medial to kidney

Triangular muscle that lines both sides of the spine from hips to mid back, seen posterior medial to kidney

• A. Psoas
• B. Quadratus lumborum
• C. Latissimus dorsi
• D. Iliacus

Answer: (A)

Recognize the posterior abdominal wall anatomy and how the renal region is organized on ultrasound. The muscle that runs along both sides of the spine from the hips up to the mid back and sits just medial to the kidney is the psoas major. It lies adjacent to the spine in the retroperitoneum and forms the medial border of the psoas-iliac region, making it a key landmark for identifying the kidney and other retroperitoneal structures. The quadratus lumborum sits more posterior and lateral near the 12th rib and transverse processes, the iliacus is in the iliac fossa anterior to the hip, and the latissimus dorsi is a superficial back muscle. Therefore, the described triangular muscle is the psoas major.

Recognize the posterior abdominal wall anatomy and how the renal region is organized on ultrasound. The muscle that runs along both sides of the spine from the hips up to the mid back and sits just medial to the kidney is the psoas major. It lies adjacent to the spine in the retroperitoneum and forms the medial border of the psoas-iliac region, making it a key landmark for identifying the kidney and other retroperitoneal structures. The quadratus lumborum sits more posterior and lateral near the 12th rib and transverse processes, the iliacus is in the iliac fossa anterior to the hip, and the latissimus dorsi is a superficial back muscle. Therefore, the described triangular muscle is the psoas major.