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The scapula, commonly referred to as the shoulder blade, is the bone that sits above the rib cage in the upper back. The scapula can move in six directions, including elevation, and each movement is produced by specific, primary muscles. The muscles responsible for scapular elevation, or upward rotation, are the upper and lower trapezius, levator scapulae, and serratus anterior. The rhomboid muscles, including the rhomboideus major and minor, are also involved in scapular elevation, though they are primarily responsible for scapular retraction.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Movement | Cranial motion of the scapula (scapulothoracic joint), commonly described as "shrugging the shoulders" |
| Muscles Involved | Upper trapezius, middle and lower trapezius, rhomboids, levator scapulae, serratus anterior, pectoralis minor, subclavius |
| Function | Allows for multiple types of motion, including protraction, retraction, elevation, depression, upward rotation, and downward rotation |
| Exercise | Scapular retraction exercises help improve the integrity and strength of the muscles around the shoulder blades |
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What You'll Learn
- The trapezius, levator scapulae, and rhomboid muscles are responsible for scapular elevation
- The middle and lower serratus anterior are the prime movers for scapular elevation
- The pectoralis minor is responsible for scapular downward rotation
- The rhomboideus major and minor prevent the lateral rotation of the scapula
- The subclavius exerts a stabilizing action on the scapula by preventing the rotation of the clavicle
The trapezius, levator scapulae, and rhomboid muscles are responsible for scapular elevation
The scapula, or shoulder blade, is a bone that sits above the rib cage in the upper back. It is responsible for multiple types of motion, including protraction, retraction, elevation, depression, upward rotation, and downward rotation. This enables us to have a fully functional upper extremity area.
The scapular retraction exercises are important for scapular health and involve pulling the shoulder blades together toward the spine. These exercises focus on improving the integrity and strength of the muscles around the shoulder blades. The trapezius, rhomboids, and latissimus dorsi muscles are responsible for retraction.
The scapulae can move in six directions, and each movement is produced by specific, primary muscles. The muscles involved in scapular retraction are the upper trapezius, middle and lower trapezius, rhomboids, and latissimus dorsi. Also called abduction of the scapula, this is when the scapulae move laterally away from the spine. The serratus anterior, pectoralis major, and pectoralis minor muscles are responsible for protraction.
The scapulothoracic joint movement is dependent on the acromioclavicular and sternoclavicular joints. The scapulohumeral rhythm is a combination of motions of the scapula, clavicle, and humerus to achieve full elevation of the arm, with a 2:1 ratio. This means that for every two degrees of movement at the humerus, the scapula moves one degree.
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The middle and lower serratus anterior are the prime movers for scapular elevation
The scapula, or shoulder blade, is a bone that sits above the rib cage in the upper back. It is responsible for multiple types of motion, including protraction, retraction, elevation, depression, upward rotation, and downward rotation. This enables us to have a fully functional upper extremity area.
The middle and lower serratus anterior are the only scapulothoracic muscles with the capability to both upwardly rotate and posteriorly tilt the scapula on the thorax. Their line of action will also directly approximate the scapula to the thorax, which can serve as a stable base. The functions of the serratus anterior make its contribution to normal scapular kinematics during arm elevation very significant in reducing the risk of scapular alterations identified with shoulder impingement symptoms, including reduced upward rotation or posterior tilting, or increased scapular internal rotation.
The middle and lower serratus anterior muscles have been most often described as the prime movers for scapular rotation during arm elevation. Inman, Saunders, and Abbott stated that the trapezius and lower serratus anterior are the prime movers for scapular upward rotation. The serratus anterior is also the primary muscle for scapular protraction, playing a key role in stabilizing and moving the scapula during exercises like the bench press.
The scapular elevation refers to the cranial motion of the scapula (scapulothoracic joint), commonly described as "shrugging the shoulders". This movement is facilitated by several muscles, and it is useful to distinguish them as primary movers and stabilizers. It is important to note that no one movement of the scapula occurs in isolation and no individual muscle exerts a singular action on the scapula.
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The pectoralis minor is responsible for scapular downward rotation
The scapula, or shoulder blade, is a sturdy, flat, triangular bone that sits above the rib cage in the upper back. The scapula forms the posterior of the shoulder girdle and creates the shoulder joint where it meets the head of the humerus (the bone of the upper arm). The scapula is an extremely important bone in the body that allows for multiple types of motion, including protraction, retraction, elevation, depression, upward rotation, and downward rotation. This enables us to have a fully functional upper extremity area.
The pectoralis minor is a muscle that attaches to and acts on the scapula via the coracoid process, pulling it forward and inferiorly. It is located under the pectoralis major, and both form the anterior wall of the axilla. The pectoralis minor is triangular in shape and originates from the margins of the third to fifth ribs adjacent to the costochondral junction. The fibers consequently pass upward and laterally to insert into the medial border and superior surface of the coracoid process of the scapula.
The pectoralis minor has several functions, most of which are related to the movement of the scapula. The primary actions of this muscle include the stabilization, depression, abduction or protraction, internal rotation, and downward rotation of the scapula. The pectoralis minor is responsible for scapular downward rotation, which is also known as medial rotation (the inferior angle of the scapula moves medially). This downward rotation is accomplished by the force of gravity as well as the latissimus dorsi, levator scapulae, rhomboids, and the pectoralis major and minor muscles.
When the scapula is fixed, the pectoralis minor can be considered an accessory muscle of respiration when inspiration is deep and forced, as it will help raise ribs 3-5 during inspiration. If the pectoralis minor muscle is shortened, it can cause the scapula to be stuck in an undesirable position, which can lead to a number of clinical conditions, including thoracic outlet syndrome.
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The rhomboideus major and minor prevent the lateral rotation of the scapula
The scapula, or shoulder blade, is a sturdy, flat, triangular bone that sits above the rib cage in the upper back. It forms the posterior of the shoulder girdle, connecting the clavicle to the humerus. The scapula is a highly mobile bone, capable of six types of motion: protraction, retraction, elevation, depression, upward rotation, and downward rotation. This mobility enables a fully functional upper extremity range of motion.
The scapula's stability is dependent on the surrounding musculature, with several muscles attaching directly to the scapula. These include the levator scapulae, teres major, rhomboideus major and minor, serratus anterior, subscapularis, infraspinatus, and supraspinatus.
The rhomboideus major and minor muscles attach to the medial border of the scapula. They are responsible for the elevation of the medial border of the scapula and play a crucial role in preventing its lateral rotation. This function of the rhomboideus major and minor contributes to the overall stability of the scapula.
The rhomboideus muscles are also involved in scapular adduction or retraction, which is the backward rotation of the scapula toward the vertebral column. Additionally, the rhomboideus muscles, along with the trapezius and latissimus dorsi, are responsible for scapular retraction exercises, which are important for maintaining scapular health and improving posture.
In summary, the rhomboideus major and minor muscles not only prevent the lateral rotation of the scapula but also contribute to its elevation, retraction, and overall stability. These muscles are essential for maintaining proper scapular positioning and function, thereby facilitating the full range of motion in the upper extremity area.
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The subclavius exerts a stabilizing action on the scapula by preventing the rotation of the clavicle
The scapula, or shoulder blade, is a sturdy, flat, triangular bone that sits above the rib cage in the upper back. It forms the posterior of the shoulder girdle and creates the shoulder joint where it meets with the head of the humerus, the bone of the upper arm. The scapula has six types of motion, which allow for a full range of upper extremity movement. These include protraction, retraction, elevation, depression, upward rotation, and downward rotation.
The scapula provides attachment points for several groups of muscles, including the intrinsic and extrinsic muscles. The intrinsic muscles of the scapula attach directly to the surface of the bone and include the four members of the rotator cuff: the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis. These muscles act to stabilize the glenohumeral joint and assist with abduction and external and internal rotation of the joint. The extrinsic muscles of the scapula include the triceps, biceps, and deltoid.
The third group of muscles includes the levator scapulae, trapezius, rhomboids, and serratus anterior. These muscles are responsible for rotational movements and stabilization of the scapula. The levator scapulae originates from the posterior tubercles of the transverse processes of cervical vertebrae 1-4 and inserts along the medial border of the scapula at the level of the scapular spine. The trapezius functions include upward rotation and elevation for the upper trapezius, retraction for the middle trapezius, and upward rotation and depression for the lower trapezius.
The subclavius is one of the extrinsic muscles of the scapula that exerts a stabilizing action on the scapula by preventing the rotation of the clavicle. This muscle helps to maintain the proper positioning and mechanics of the scapula, which is crucial for efficient shoulder complex function. By preventing the rotation of the clavicle, the subclavius also helps to resist dislocation of the shoulder and aids in the abduction and rotation of the arm. Overall, the subclavius plays an important role in maintaining the stability and function of the scapula and the surrounding joints.
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Frequently asked questions
The trapezius, levator scapulae, and rhomboid muscles are responsible for scapular elevation.
Scapular elevation refers to the cranial motion of the scapula, commonly described as "shrugging the shoulders".
The scapula can move in six directions. These include protraction, retraction, elevation, depression, upward rotation, and downward rotation.
