Latissimus Dorsi (left) — EMG Electrode Placement

Recording notes & source

per Criswell 2011, site „Latissimus Dorsi“, p. 341

Placement type: Specific site The signal originates predominantly from this muscle.
Signal check: Extend, adduct or medially rotate the arm.
Crosstalk from: teres major · lower trapezius
Artefacts: ECG.

Print as a session sheet · A4 with landmarks, signal check and MVC test

Source: Boettcher et al. 2008 ↗

Boettcher CE, Ginn KA, Cathers I. Standard maximum isometric voluntary contraction tests for normalizing shoulder muscle EMG. J Orthop Res. 2008;26(12):1591-1597.

Methodological background of the source

Boettcher et al. (2008) described 15 standardized maximum isometric voluntary contraction (MVIC) tests for 12 shoulder muscles to normalize shoulder EMG, recorded with a combination of surface and intramuscular electrodes. The position used here is aligned with this work — it is designed for reproducible comparisons between sessions and subjects.

Based on SENIAM recommendations (Hermens et al. 2000). Not an official SENIAM product. See all references → · SENIAM reference table · How electrodes are placed (guide) · Glossary

Go deeper Which Muscles Cannot Be Measured With Surface EMG — and Why → Specific, Quasi-Specific, General — The Three Types of Surface EMG Placement →

All 49 muscle protocols as a PDF — free

Print-ready for the lab or clinic: 77 pages of protocols (SENIAM + peer-reviewed), plus the SENIAM table, a placement checklist and a sensor comparison sheet as A4 sheets.

Anatomy & Function

The M. Latissimus Dorsi (Latissimus Dorsi) is a muscle of the shoulder region. It is responsible for retroversion, adduction, internal rotation of arm, accessory respiratory muscle (expiration). This muscle is not covered by the official SENIAM catalogue — placement is based on established clinical literature. This page documents the exact electrode position, anatomical attachments and a standardized test movement based on Hermens et al. (2000).

Function Retroversion, adduction, internal rotation of arm, accessory respiratory muscle (expiration) Origin Proc. spinosi Th7–L5, thoracolumbar fascia, iliac crest, 10th–12th rib Insertion Crest of lesser tubercle of humerus Innervation Thoracodorsal nerve (posterior cord), C6–C8

Innervation after Perotto AO, Anatomical Guide for the Electromyographer, 5th ed. 2011 — an anatomical reference, not an electrode placement recommendation.

Test Movement

Pull arm from elevation downward-backward against resistance (pull-up motion)

This muscle has no SENIAM-standardized electrode position. Placement should be based on anatomical knowledge.

Detail: sensor on the M. Latissimus Dorsi — Illustration shows the left side; the set-up is mirrored for the right side.

MVC reference test (Konrad 2005)

Position: Simulated pull-up: elbows at about 90° flexion, check a frontal and a lateral arm position.
Fixation: Fixed bar or machine; trunk stabilised.
Resistance: Pulling against the fixed bar.
Control exercise: The same set-up may also produce maxima for the biceps and the lower trapezius.

The pull-up simulation produces the highest latissimus innervation; the lower trapezius and teres major share the set-up.

Konrad P. The ABC of EMG. Noraxon; 2005, p. 31. Konrad describes this test at group level; it applies to all muscles of the group. · Why and how to normalise to MVC

Measure M. Latissimus Dorsi activity live

The electrode is placed — what next? easyEMG visualises muscle activity in real time, with SENIAM-compliant placement guidance, up to 4 channels at once and biofeedback training right afterwards.

In rehabilitation, the Latissimus Dorsi is typically recorded to track progress and retrain activation.

EMG biofeedback in physiotherapy → What is EMG biofeedback? PicoBlue sensors

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I place the EMG electrode on the M. Latissimus Dorsi?

4cm below inferior angle of scapula, halfway to spine. Orientation: Oblique, toward inferior angle–humerus. Not covered by SENIAM — placement per Boettcher et al. 2008.

Which test movement activates the M. Latissimus Dorsi?

Pull arm from elevation downward-backward against resistance (pull-up motion). It serves as a signal check before recording: with correct electrode placement the EMG amplitude rises clearly during this movement.

Is the M. Latissimus Dorsi a SENIAM-recommended muscle?

No. The M. Latissimus Dorsi is not included in the official SENIAM catalogue. The electrode position documented here follows the established protocol per Boettcher et al. 2008.

M. Latissimus Dorsi

Electrode placement (Boettcher et al. 2008)