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The teres muscle is a thick muscle of the shoulder joint. It is one of the seven scapulohumeral muscles that act around the glenohumeral joint to facilitate shoulder movement. The teres major muscle is located just superior to the latissimus dorsi muscle, and these two muscles often work together to extend, adduct, and internally rotate the humerus. The teres minor is a narrow, intrinsic shoulder muscle that extends from the lateral border of the scapula to the greater tubercle of the humerus. It contributes to the rotator cuff, a capsule of muscles and tendons that collectively stabilize the glenohumeral joint.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type | Thick, somewhat flattened muscle |
| Location | Shoulder joint, above the latissimus dorsi muscle |
| Function | Produces movements of the arm on the shoulder joint |
| Innervation | Lower subscapular nerve (C5-C7), a branch of the brachial plexus |
| Vascularization | Thoracodorsal branch of the subscapular artery, posterior circumflex humeral artery |
| Prone to | Development of trigger points, injuries, and atrophy |
| Synonyms | "Lat's little helper", "Climbing muscle" |
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What You'll Learn
The teres major muscle is located in the shoulder joint
The teres major muscle is a thick but somewhat flattened muscle. It is one of the seven scapulohumeral muscles, which are closely associated with the movement and stabilisation of the shoulder joint. The teres major muscle originates from the posterior surface of the inferior angle of the scapula and the lower part of its lateral border. The fibres of the teres major insert into the medial lip of the intertubercular sulcus of the humerus. The tendon of the teres major lies behind that of the latissimus dorsi, and the two tendons are united along their lower borders for a short distance.
The teres major muscle is supplied by the lower subscapular nerve (C5-C7), a branch of the brachial plexus. It is also vascularised by the thoracodorsal branch of the subscapular artery and the posterior circumflex humeral artery. These arteries ensure that the teres major muscle receives the necessary oxygen and nutrients to function effectively. The teres major muscle is involved in producing movements of the arm on the shoulder joint. By contracting, it pulls the humerus posteriorly (extension) and rotates it medially towards the trunk (internal rotation).
The teres major muscle is prone to the development of trigger points, which are local, permanent hypertensive areas with rigidification (myofascial pain syndrome). Common causes include poor stretching before physical activity, trauma (such as a fall on the shoulder), and microtraumas through chronic inappropriate straining. Symptoms include local pain, which may radiate to the lateral shoulder during palpation, and difficulties in abducting and elevating the arm. Teres major injuries resulting from workouts are usually cured with a proper warm-up before exercising. Warm-up helps loosen the muscles and tissues and makes them less compact.
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Teres major strain prevention and treatment
The teres major is a small muscle that runs along the lateral border of the scapula (shoulder blade). It is one of the seven scapulohumeral muscles that act around the glenohumeral joint to facilitate shoulder movement. It is prone to strain if overworked or improperly stretched.
Prevention
To prevent a teres major strain, it is important to warm up properly before exercising. Warming up helps loosen the muscles and tissues and makes them less compact. It is also important to maintain flexibility in the upper back and shoulders through regular stretching and to build shoulder strength gradually to avoid sudden stress on the teres major.
Additionally, individuals involved in repetitive activities that place consistent stress on the shoulder joint, such as swimming, baseball pitching, and tennis, should practice proper techniques, allow adequate rest between activities, and incorporate strengthening exercises into their fitness routines.
Treatment
If you are experiencing a teres major strain, rest is essential. Avoid exercises that could worsen the strain, especially weightlifting or high-impact sports. Instead, focus on lower-impact movements that won't strain the shoulder area. To alleviate swelling, apply ice to the painful area for 15-20 minutes, several times a day during the first 48 hours after noticing the pain. Place a cloth or towel between the ice pack and your skin to avoid irritation.
Once the pain begins to subside, incorporate gentle stretching exercises to prevent tightness in the teres major. Try stretches such as the cross-body shoulder stretch and the doorway stretch. As you continue to recover, incorporate strengthening exercises to support your recovery, such as rows, pull-ups, and external rotation exercises.
If pain persists beyond a week or limits your daily activities, consult a therapist for personalized guidance. Services like deep tissue massage and therapeutic massage offer targeted relief and promote faster healing.
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Teres major's role in stabilising the humeral head
The teres major is a thick, somewhat flattened muscle of the shoulder joint. It is one of the seven scapulohumeral muscles, which act around the glenohumeral joint to facilitate shoulder movement. The teres major muscle is positioned above the latissimus dorsi muscle and assists in the extension and medial rotation of the humerus.
The teres major is commonly confused with a rotator cuff muscle, but it does not attach to the capsule of the shoulder joint. Instead, it attaches to the scapula and the humerus. The muscle fibres converge onto a single tendon that inserts into the medial lip of the intertubercular sulcus of the humerus.
The teres major plays a role in stabilising the humeral head in the glenoid cavity. This was demonstrated in a study where the anteroinferior surface of the humeral head was shown to rest firmly against the muscle belly of the teres major, misshaping it from 110 degrees of arm elevation with external rotation. This suggests that the teres major provides support to the humeral head, particularly when the arm is lifted.
The teres major is also involved in producing movements of the arm on the shoulder joint. By contracting, it pulls the humerus posteriorly (extension) and rotates it medially towards the trunk (internal rotation). Additionally, it contributes to the stabilisation of the shoulder joint.
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Teres minor: a narrow, elongated muscle of the rotator cuff
The teres minor is a narrow, elongated muscle of the rotator cuff. It is one of four muscles that make up the rotator cuff, along with the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and subscapularis. The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint and hold the bones together, allowing a wide range of movement while maintaining the joint's stability.
The teres minor originates from the lateral border and adjacent posterior surface of the scapula (shoulder blade). It then inserts at the greater tubercle of the humerus (upper arm bone) and the posterior surface of the joint capsule. The muscle is innervated by the axillary nerve and arises from the dorsal surface of the axillary border of the scapula for the upper two-thirds of its extent. Its fibres run obliquely upwards and laterally, with the upper ones ending in a tendon that is inserted into the lowest of the three impressions on the greater tubercle of the humerus.
The primary function of the teres minor is to modulate the action of the deltoid muscle, preventing the head of the humerus from sliding upward as the arm is abducted. It also functions to rotate the humerus laterally, assisting in turning and rotating the arm. Along with the infraspinatus, the teres minor attaches to the head of the humerus, helping to hold the humeral head in the glenoid cavity of the scapula.
Injuries to the rotator cuff are common, especially among athletes who play contact sports or those who perform sudden, powerful movements such as throwing a pitch or paddling in kayaking. Rotator cuff tears can occur all at once or build up over time through repeated wear and tear. Acute tears occur as a result of sudden movements, while chronic tears develop over time, usually at or near the tendon. Selective atrophy of the teres minor muscle has been observed in compression of the corresponding axillary nerve branch or posterior humeral circumflex artery.
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Teres minor atrophy and detection
The teres muscle is a muscle of the upper limb. It is a thick muscle of the shoulder joint. The teres major is one of the seven scapulohumeral muscles that act around the glenohumeral joint to facilitate shoulder movement. The teres minor, on the other hand, is a critical component of the rotator cuff and serves as one of the few external rotators of the humerus.
Teres minor atrophy is thought to be secondary to an injury of the nerve to the teres minor beyond the quadrilateral space. Tears of the teres minor muscle or tendon are relatively rare, but denervation injuries are common, found in 3-5% of patients undergoing routine MRI of the shoulder. Denervation of the muscle is identified on MR images by the presence of diffuse, homogeneous muscle edema. In later stages, fatty infiltration occurs, and when denervation is long-standing, complete fatty atrophy of the teres minor may be present. MRI is an effective means to evaluate both tears and denervation injuries of the teres minor, allowing the detection of associated abnormalities of the capsule.
Teres minor atrophy can negatively affect postoperative outcomes in patients with rotator cuff pathology. A retrospective review of patients undergoing primary arthroscopic shoulder surgery between 2014 and 2016 was performed to investigate the effect of preoperative teres atrophy on postoperative clinical outcomes. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging was used to determine fatty infiltration for each rotator cuff muscle using the modified Goutallier classification.
Teres major injuries resulting from workouts are usually cured with a proper warm-up before exercising. Warm-up helps loosen the muscles and tissues and makes them less compact. Flexibility of the muscles helps them stretch and operate more easily. Strengthening exercises that work on shoulder stability include compound and isolated teres major exercises, such as seated rows with resistance bands, lat pulldowns, and chin-ups.
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Frequently asked questions
The teres major is a thick muscle of the shoulder joint. It is located just superior to the latissimus dorsi muscle, and these two muscles often work together.
The teres minor is a narrow, elongated muscle of the rotator cuff. It originates from the lateral border and adjacent posterior surface of the scapula and inserts at the greater tubercle of the humerus.
The main function of the teres major muscle is to produce movements of the arm on the shoulder joint. It pulls the humerus posteriorly and rotates it medially towards the trunk. It also contributes to the stabilization of the shoulder joint.
The primary function of the teres minor muscle is to modulate the action of the deltoid, preventing the humeral head from sliding upward as the arm is abducted. It also functions to rotate the humerus laterally.
Teres Major injuries can often be prevented by ensuring a proper warm-up before workouts. Warm-up helps loosen the muscles and tissues and makes them more flexible. It is also important to include strengthening exercises and ensure good posture.
