ˌsemə̇ˌspīˈnalə̇s, -nāl- noun
( plural semispina·les -a(ˌ)lēz, -ā(ˌ)lēz)
Etymology: New Latin, from semispinalis, adjective, from Latin semi- + Late Latin spinalis spinal — more at spinal
: a deep layer of muscle of the back on each side of the spinal column extending from the lower dorsal region to the second cervical vertebra, consisting of a number of long slender fasciculi that arise each from the transverse process of one of the lower vertebrae, pass obliquely upward across several vertebrae, and are inserted into the spinous process of a vertebra farther up, and being divided into lower, middle, and upper segments — called also respectively semispinalis dor.si -ˈdȯrˌsī, semispinalis cer.vi.cis -ˈsərvəsə̇s, and semispinalis ca.pi.tis -ˈkapəd.ə̇s