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The supraspinatus muscle is a small but important muscle that is a part of the rotator cuff. It is the most frequently torn muscle in the rotator cuff and is the most superiorly located of the four muscles that comprise it. The supraspinatus muscle performs abduction of the arm and pulls the head of the humerus medially towards the glenoid cavity. It also helps to stabilise the shoulder joint by keeping the head of the humerus firmly pressed against the glenoid fossa of the scapula. The architecture of the supraspinatus muscle has been described in multiple ways, from fusiform to circumpennate. So, is the supraspinatus a bipennate muscle?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Muscle Type | Rotator Cuff Muscle |
| Location | Shoulder Joint, specifically in the supraspinatus fossa of the scapula |
| Function | Abduction of the arm, resists gravitational forces acting on the shoulder joint, stabilizes the glenohumeral joint |
| Nerve | Suprascapular Nerve |
| Artery | Suprascapular Artery, Dorsal Scapular Artery |
| Vein | Subclavian Vein |
| Tendon | Extends laterally, passing under the acromion process and over the head of the humerus |
| Pennation | Unipennate |
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What You'll Learn
- The supraspinatus muscle is one of the four rotator cuff muscles
- It is the most frequently torn rotator cuff muscle
- Arthroscopic surgery is effective in improving shoulder functionality after a tear
- The supraspinatus muscle is innervated by the suprascapular nerve
- The muscle is involved in the abduction of the arm
The supraspinatus muscle is one of the four rotator cuff muscles
The supraspinatus muscle is one of the four muscles that make up the rotator cuff. The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint. It helps to move and rotate the arm and shoulder. The other three muscles that work with the supraspinatus muscle to perform these functions are the infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis. The acronym SITS is often used to refer to these four muscles.
The rotator cuff holds the humerus (upper arm bone) in place in its socket in the scapula (shoulder blade). The supraspinatus muscle, in particular, allows for the rotation and lifting of the arm. It stretches from the top of the scapula to the upper end of the humerus (its head). The subscapularis, the largest and strongest of the four muscles, lets you hold your arm outstretched away from your body. It attaches to the middle of your scapula and stretches to the lower part of the humeral head. The infraspinatus and teres minor help with the rotation of the arm.
The supraspinatus is one of the most frequently damaged components of the rotator cuff, whether from acute injury or gradual degeneration. Bad posture and age are leading risk factors for injury. Calcification of the supraspinatus tendon is a major contributor to shoulder pain and is often worsened following a supraspinatus tear. Other associated pathologies include acromial impingement, frozen shoulder, and poor sleep, especially on the affected side.
Rotator cuff injuries are common, especially among athletes who play contact sports. Shoulder popping, also known as crepitus, is another possible cause of injury. Symptoms of a rotator cuff injury include pain in the shoulder area, usually described as a dull ache. There may also be weakness when lifting the arm, and difficulty with basic functional activities like lifting, reaching, or sleeping.
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It is the most frequently torn rotator cuff muscle
The supraspinatus muscle is indeed one of the four muscles that make up the rotator cuff. It is also the most frequently damaged component of the rotator cuff, whether from acute injury or gradual degeneration. Bad posture and age are the leading risk factors for supraspinatus tears, with a high prevalence of asymptomatic partial and full tears. The tendon of the supraspinatus muscle can be torn or ruptured, and this often occurs with another rotator cuff muscle tear. This can be due to trauma, repeated micro-trauma, or even degeneration.
Rotator cuff tears are common, especially among athletes who play contact or overhead sports such as baseball, tennis, and weightlifting. The risk of rotator cuff tears also increases with age due to the decreased blood supply to the tendons, which impairs the body's natural ability to repair tendon damage. As a result, people over 40 are at a greater risk of rotator cuff tears.
The supraspinatus muscle is responsible for abduction of the arm and pulling the head of the humerus medially towards the glenoid cavity. It also assists the rotator cuff in stabilizing, controlling, and moving the shoulder. This function of the supraspinatus means that a tear can cause significant pain and dysfunction, often requiring surgery to repair the tendon.
Treatments for rotator cuff tears aim to relieve pain and help the cuff heal. Non-operative treatments include rest, icing the shoulder, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and physical therapy. Operative treatments typically involve arthroscopic surgery to re-attach the tendon to the head of the humerus, with the specific procedure depending on the individual's health needs.
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Arthroscopic surgery is effective in improving shoulder functionality after a tear
The supraspinatus muscle is one of the most frequently damaged components of the rotator cuff, with tears causing debilitating shoulder pain, weakness, and reduced strength. Arthroscopic surgery is an effective treatment for supraspinatus tears, offering improved shoulder functionality and pain relief.
Arthroscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a small camera, called an arthroscope, inserted into the shoulder joint. This provides a detailed view of the internal shoulder structures, allowing surgeons to use miniature instruments to repair the tear with minimal trauma to the surrounding muscles and tissues. The success of the surgery depends on the healing of the interface between the tendon and bone.
The effectiveness of arthroscopic surgery for full-thickness supraspinatus tears has been demonstrated in several studies. One study reported that 95.8% of patients returned to their original sports and functionality after a mean of 5.3 post-operative months. Another study compared early surgery with delayed surgery and found superior function in the early surgery group.
While arthroscopic surgery is generally successful, there is a risk of re-tear, and tears tend to get larger over time. Therefore, delaying surgery is not recommended, as it can lead to the progression of a partial tear to a full tear, muscle atrophy, and weakness. Patients should be carefully assessed, and surgery should be performed by an experienced orthopedic surgeon.
Overall, arthroscopic surgery is an effective treatment option for supraspinatus tears, offering improved shoulder functionality, pain relief, and patient satisfaction. However, it is important to consider the potential risks and ensure proper patient selection and surgical expertise to optimize outcomes.
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The supraspinatus muscle is innervated by the suprascapular nerve
The supraspinatus muscle is a small muscle in the upper back that runs from the supraspinous fossa superior portion of the scapula (shoulder blade) to the greater tubercle of the humerus. It is one of the four rotator cuff muscles and abducts the arm at the shoulder. The supraspinatus muscle is innervated by the suprascapular nerve, which is a mixed (sensory and motor) nerve that branches from the upper trunk of the brachial plexus.
The suprascapular nerve originates from the upper trunk of the brachial plexus, which is formed by the union of the ventral rami of the cervical nerves C5-C6. After branching from the upper trunk, the nerve passes across the posterior triangle of the neck, parallel to the inferior belly of the omohyoid muscle and deep to the trapezius muscle. It then runs along the superior border of the scapula through the suprascapular canal, entering via the suprascapular notch and into the supraspinous fossa. Here, the suprascapular nerve gives off a branch to the supraspinatus muscle.
The suprascapular nerve provides motor innervation to the supraspinatus muscle, which is essential for the muscle's function in arm abduction and preventing the head of the humerus from slipping inferiorly. The supraspinatus muscle works in cooperation with the deltoid muscle in performing abduction, and the nerve supply from the suprascapular nerve enables this movement.
Damage to the suprascapular nerve can occur in fractures of the clavicle, which may reduce the person's ability to initiate abduction of the arm. This nerve injury can also lead to suprascapular nerve entrapment syndrome, causing shoulder pain and localized muscular atrophy of the supraspinatus muscle. The suprascapular nerve is vulnerable to injury during surgical procedures or when medial retractors are used, as it is located close to the midposterior glenoid rim.
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The muscle is involved in the abduction of the arm
The supraspinatus muscle is located in the shoulder and is responsible for the abduction of the arm. Abduction, in anatomical terms, is the motion of a limb or appendage away from the midline of the body. In the case of arm abduction, it is the movement of the arms away from the body within the plane of the torso (coronal plane). The supraspinatus muscle works in cooperation with the deltoid muscle to perform this function.
The deltoid muscle becomes the main propagator of arm abduction beyond 15 degrees, while the supraspinatus muscle is crucial for initiating the movement. The supraspinatus muscle also helps to stabilise the shoulder joint by resisting gravitational forces and maintaining contact between the head of the humerus and the glenoid fossa.
The supraspinatus is one of the muscles in the rotator cuff, which is a group of muscles responsible for the movement and stabilisation of the shoulder joint. It is the most frequently torn or injured muscle in the rotator cuff, with bad posture and age being leading risk factors. Calcification of the supraspinatus tendon can also cause shoulder pain and is often worsened by a supraspinatus tear.
The supraspinatus muscle originates from the supraspinous fossa of the scapula, passes under the acromion, and inserts on the superior facet of the greater tubercle of the humerus. The suprascapular nerve innervates the supraspinatus, and damage to this nerve can reduce the person's ability to initiate arm abduction.
While it is commonly stated that the supraspinatus muscle initiates shoulder abduction, there is limited direct evidence to support this claim. Some studies have found that paralysing the supraspinatus does not impede the ability to abduct the shoulder, while others have shown that it is active during the full range of shoulder abduction.
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Frequently asked questions
The supraspinatus muscle is the smallest and most superiorly located of the four rotator cuff muscles. It helps to stabilise the shoulder joint by keeping the head of the humerus firmly pressed against the glenoid fossa of the scapula.
The supraspinatus muscle performs abduction of the arm and pulls the head of the humerus medially towards the glenoid cavity. It also assists in the lateral rotation of the humerus.
The supraspinatus is the most frequently torn rotator cuff muscle and is often the result of acute injury or gradual degeneration. Calcification of the supraspinatus tendon is a major contributor to shoulder pain and is often worsened following a supraspinatus tear.
No, the supraspinatus is not a bipennate muscle. A bipennate muscle is one in which the muscle fibres are obliquely set on both sides of a central tendon, such as the gastrocnemius. The supraspinatus has been described as having a fusiform structure, with anterior and posterior muscle bellies.
