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The supraspinatus muscle is located on the back of the shoulder, forming part of the rotator cuff. It is a small triangular-shaped muscle, located deep to the trapezius muscle in the posterior scapular region. The supraspinatus muscle is the most superiorly located of the rotator cuff muscles, which also include the infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis muscles. The supraspinatus muscle originates from the supraspinous fossa, a shallow depression in the body of the scapula above its spine, and extends laterally, passing under the acromion process and over the head of the humerus.
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What You'll Learn
- The supraspinatus muscle is located deep to the trapezius muscle
- It is superior to the spine of the scapula
- The supraspinatus is one of the four rotator cuff muscles
- It originates from the supraspinous fossa of the scapula
- The supraspinatus tendon is inserted into the superior facet of the greater tubercle of the humerus
The supraspinatus muscle is located deep to the trapezius muscle
The supraspinatus is one of four muscles that make up the rotator cuff, along with the infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis muscles. The rotator cuff covers the head of the humerus and keeps it in place. These muscles help to lift and rotate the arm, and the supraspinatus is a major abductor of the arm. The supraspinatus also works in cooperation with the deltoid muscle to perform abduction, including when the arm is in an adducted position.
The supraspinatus muscle is supplied by the suprascapular nerve, which arises from the superior trunk of the brachial plexus. The suprascapular nerve passes through the suprascapular notch, along with the suprascapular artery, to supply the supraspinatus. The supraspinatus also receives arterial supply from the dorsal scapular artery, a branch of the thyrocervical trunk of the subclavian artery.
The supraspinatus muscle can degenerate in elderly people, leading to increased instability and loss of function at the shoulder joint. The supraspinatus tendon can also become inflamed, leading to tendinitis, which is often associated with shoulder impingement syndrome. Calcification of the supraspinatus tendon is a major contributor to shoulder pain and is often worsened by a supraspinatus tear.
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It is superior to the spine of the scapula
The supraspinatus muscle is located on the back of the shoulder, forming part of the rotator cuff. The rotator cuff consists of the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis, and teres minor muscles. These muscles help to lift and rotate the arm. The supraspinatus is the most superiorly located of the rotator cuff muscles. It is a small triangular-shaped muscle, located on the posterior aspect of the scapula.
The supraspinatus muscle is superior to the spine of the scapula. It originates from the supraspinous fossa, a shallow depression located above the spine of the scapula. The supraspinatus muscle tendon passes laterally beneath the cover of the acromion. The supraspinatus muscle is supplied by the suprascapular nerve (C5 and C6), which arises from the superior trunk of the brachial plexus. It passes laterally through the posterior triangle of the neck and through the scapular notch on the superior border of the scapula. After supplying fibres to the supraspinatus muscle, it supplies articular branches to the capsule of the shoulder joint.
The supraspinatus muscle is one of the four rotator cuff muscles that help to stabilise the glenohumeral joint. The tendon of the supraspinatus muscle extends laterally, passing under the acromion process and over the head of the humerus. It blends into the glenohumeral joint capsule to insert onto the superior facet of the greater tuberosity of the humerus. The supraspinatus muscle is involved in the abduction of the arm and stabilisation of the humeral head in the shoulder joint. It acts in coordination with the other rotator cuff muscles to stabilise the head of the humerus on the shallow glenoid fossa and promote the structural integrity of the joint.
The supraspinatus muscle is susceptible to tears, which can be partial or full-thickness tears. These tears can cause pain, loss of range of motion, and weakness. Tears can occur due to acute injury or gradual degeneration, with bad posture and age being leading risk factors. Calcification of the supraspinatus tendon can also contribute to shoulder pain and is often worsened by a supraspinatus tear.
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The supraspinatus is one of the four rotator cuff muscles
The supraspinatus muscle is a small, triangular-shaped muscle that originates from the supraspinous fossa, a shallow depression located above the spine of the scapula. The tendon of the supraspinatus muscle extends laterally, passing under the acromion process and over the head of the humerus. It inserts onto the superior facet of the greater tuberosity of the humerus, which is the large, rounded prominence on the lateral side of the bone.
The supraspinatus muscle performs abduction of the arm, pulling the head of the humerus medially towards the glenoid cavity. It helps to prevent the head of the humerus from slipping inferiorly and works in cooperation with the deltoid muscle to perform abduction. The supraspinatus is the main agonist muscle for this movement during the first 15 degrees of its arc. After that, the deltoid muscle becomes more effective and takes over as the main propagator of abduction.
The supraspinatus muscle is susceptible to injuries, with tears being a common occurrence. These tears can be partial or full-thickness and may be caused by acute trauma, gradual degeneration, or repetitive strain. Symptoms of a supraspinatus tear include pain, loss of range of motion, and weakness. Treatment options include conservative management with NSAIDs and physiotherapy or surgical repair, depending on the severity of the tear.
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It originates from the supraspinous fossa of the scapula
The supraspinatus muscle is located in the supraspinous fossa of the scapula, superior to the scapular spine. It is the most superiorly located of the four rotator cuff muscles, which also include the infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis. These muscles form the dynamic stabilization for the glenohumeral joint and act in a coordinated fashion to stabilize the head of the humerus on the glenoid fossa, promoting the structural integrity of the joint.
The supraspinatus muscle originates from the medial aspect of the supraspinous fossa, a concave depression located above the spine of the scapula. The muscle fibres converge onto a tendon that runs inferior to the acromion of the scapula. The supraspinatus tendon is inserted into the superior facet of the greater tubercle of the humerus, passing laterally and blending into the glenohumeral joint capsule.
The supraspinatus muscle is a major abductor of the arm and is involved in the initiation and continuation of abduction throughout the range of motion. It contributes to the lateral rotation of the humerus and assists in preventing subluxation at the shoulder joint. The muscle helps to resist the inferior gravitational forces placed on the shoulder joint due to the downward pull of the upper limb.
The supraspinatus muscle receives its nerve supply from the suprascapular nerve, formed by the anterior rami of spinal nerves C5 and C6. It receives arterial supply from the suprascapular artery, a branch of the thyrocervical trunk of the subclavian artery. The supraspinatus tendon can become inflamed, leading to tendinitis and shoulder impingement syndrome. Tears in the supraspinatus tendon are common and can cause shoulder pain, loss of range of motion, and weakness.
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The supraspinatus tendon is inserted into the superior facet of the greater tubercle of the humerus
The supraspinatus is a rotator cuff muscle that abducts the arm and stabilizes the humeral head in the shoulder joint. It is the most superiorly located of the rotator cuff muscles and is found deep to the trapezius muscle in the posterior scapular region. The supraspinatus tendon is inserted into the superior facet of the greater tubercle of the humerus.
The supraspinatus muscle is a small, triangular-shaped muscle that originates from the supraspinous fossa of the scapula, a concave depression located above the spine of the scapula. The supraspinatus tendon extends laterally, passing under the acromion process and over the head of the humerus. This position and location allow the muscle to perform the function of abduction of the humerus. The supraspinatus also contributes weakly to the lateral rotation of the humerus.
The supraspinatus muscle and tendon play a crucial role in the stabilization of the shoulder joint. Along with the other rotator cuff muscles (infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis), the supraspinatus forms part of the dynamic stabilization for the glenohumeral joint. These four muscles work together to stabilize the head of the humerus on the shallow glenoid fossa and promote the structural integrity of the joint. The supraspinatus also helps to prevent the head of the humerus from slipping inferiorly.
Tears and inflammation of the supraspinatus tendon are common injuries that can lead to shoulder pain and reduced function. Calcification of the tendon is a major contributor to pain and can be worsened by a supraspinatus tear. Arthroscopic surgery has been shown to be effective in treating full-thickness tears and improving shoulder functionality.
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Frequently asked questions
The supraspinatus muscle is located on the back of the shoulder.
The supraspinatus muscle is one of the four muscles that make up the rotator cuff. It helps to lift and rotate the arm.
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles that surround and enclose the shoulder. It helps to resist the inferior gravitational forces placed across the shoulder joint.
The other muscles in the rotator cuff are the infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis.
