Trapezius — Anatomy Notes, Diagram & Quiz

The Trapezius is located in the upper back and neck. Elevates, retracts, and rotates scapula. The trapezius is a large superficial muscle of the upper back and neck.

Trapezius highlighted in a 3D model of the human body
Trapezius highlighted in the 3D body atlas. 3D atlas: BodyParts3D (DBCLS, CC BY-SA 2.1 Japan); Écorché/Z-Anatomy (CC BY-SA 4.0). Rendered in anotemy.

Key facts

Trapezius at a glance
LocationUpper back and neck
Main functionElevates, retracts, and rotates scapula.
Layersuperficial muscles
Key fact 1The trapezius is a large superficial muscle of the upper back and neck.
Key fact 2The trapezius elevates, retracts, and rotates the scapula.
Key fact 3The trapezius is innervated by the accessory nerve (CN XI).

Where is the Trapezius located?

The Trapezius is located in the upper back and neck.

The trapezius is a large superficial muscle of the upper back and neck.

What does the Trapezius do?

Elevates, retracts, and rotates scapula.

The trapezius elevates, retracts, and rotates the scapula.

What to know for exams

  • The trapezius is a large superficial muscle of the upper back and neck.
  • The trapezius elevates, retracts, and rotates the scapula.
  • The trapezius is innervated by the accessory nerve (CN XI).

It belongs to the superficial muscles layer. Learn its location, relations, and the structures it works with.

Clinical relevance

The trapezius is innervated by the accessory nerve (CN XI).

Link the trapezius to its blood supply, innervation and relations. That is how exam questions usually test it.

Memory aid: Trapezius

The trapezius is a large superficial muscle of the upper back and neck. The trapezius elevates, retracts, and rotates the scapula. The trapezius is innervated by the accessory nerve (CN XI).

Chain it as location → function → clinical link when you revise.

Trapezius anatomy quiz

Five questions. Open each answer after you commit to a response.

  1. Where is the Trapezius located?

    Reveal answer

    Upper back and neck

  2. What is the main function of the Trapezius?

    Reveal answer

    Elevates, retracts, and rotates scapula.

  3. Give one key fact about the Trapezius.

    Reveal answer

    The trapezius is a large superficial muscle of the upper back and neck.

  4. Give another key fact about the Trapezius.

    Reveal answer

    The trapezius elevates, retracts, and rotates the scapula.

  5. What clinical link is associated with the Trapezius?

    Reveal answer

    The trapezius is innervated by the accessory nerve (CN XI).

Common questions

Where is the Trapezius located?

The Trapezius is located in the upper back and neck. The trapezius is a large superficial muscle of the upper back and neck.

What does the Trapezius do?

Elevates, retracts, and rotates scapula. The trapezius elevates, retracts, and rotates the scapula.

What is a key fact about the Trapezius?

The trapezius is innervated by the accessory nerve (CN XI).

What layer does the Trapezius belong to?

It belongs to the superficial muscles layer of the body.

What should I remember for exams?

The trapezius is a large superficial muscle of the upper back and neck. The trapezius elevates, retracts, and rotates the scapula. The trapezius is innervated by the accessory nerve (CN XI).

Sources

  1. Standring, S. (ed.). Gray’s Anatomy, 42nd edition. Elsevier, 2020.
  2. TeachMeAnatomy — anatomy library
  3. Kenhub — anatomy library
  4. StatPearls / NCBI Bookshelf — Trapezius search

3D atlas and image credits

Anatomy models: BodyParts3D, © Database Center for Life Science (DBCLS), CC BY-SA 2.1 Japan. Écorché by Charleeh, derived from BodyParts3D and Z-Anatomy, CC BY-SA 4.0. Rendered in anotemy. Changes: highlighting, framing, labels and background removal. Images: CC BY-SA 4.0.

The 3D models are third-party assets under Creative Commons share-alike licences. They keep those licences; the page text is separate. If you reuse an image, keep the attribution and the share-alike licence.