Teres minor muscle
Suprascapular and axillary nerves of right side, seen from behind. (Teres minor is visible at center.)
Muscles on the dorsum of the scapula, and the Triceps brachii muscle: #3 is Latissimus dorsi muscle #5 is Teres major muscle #6 is Teres minor muscle #7 is Supraspinatus muscle #8 is Infraspinatus muscle #13 is long head of Triceps brachii muscle
Latin	musculus teres minor
Gray's	subject #123 441
Origin	lateral border of the scapula
Insertion	inferior facet of greater tubercle of the humerus
Artery	posterior circumflex humeral artery and the circumflex scapular artery
Nerve	axillary nerve
Actions	laterally rotates the arm

The Teres minor is a narrow, elongated muscle of the rotator cuff.

Contents 1 Origin and insertion 2 Relations 3 Innervation 4 Action 5 Variations 6 Injuries 7 Additional images 8 References 9 External links 10 See also

[edit] Origin and insertion

It arises from the dorsal surface of the axillary border of the scapula for the upper two-thirds of its extent, and from two aponeurotic laminæ, one of which separates it from the Infraspinatus, the other from the Teres major.

Its fibers run obliquely upward and lateralward; the upper ones end in a tendon which is inserted into the lowest of the three impressions on the greater tubercle of the humerus; the lowest fibers are inserted directly into the humerus immediately below this impression.

[edit] Relations

The tendon of this muscle passes across, and is united with, the posterior part of the capsule of the shoulder-joint.

[edit] Innervation

The muscle is innervated by the axillary nerve. Damage to the fibers innervating the teres minor is clinically significant.

[edit] Action

The Infraspinatus and Teres minor laterally rotate the head of the humerus; they also help hold the humeral head in the glenoid cavity of the scapula.

[edit] Variations

Sometimes a group of muscle fibres from teres minor may be fused with Infraspinatus.

[edit] Injuries

There are two types of rotator cuff injuries: acute tears and chronic tears. Acute tears occur as a result of a sudden movement. This might include throwing a powerful pitch, holding a fast moving rope during water sports, falling over onto an outstretched hand at speed, or making a sudden thrust with the paddle in kayaking. A chronic tear develops over a period of time. They usually occur at or near the tendon, as a result of the tendon rubbing against the underlying bone. For treatment and strengthening, consult Injuries.^[1]

[edit] Additional images

Diagram of the human shoulder joint	Left scapula. Dorsal surface.	Left humerus. Posterior view.	The scapular and circumflex arteries.
The suprascapular, axillary, and radial nerves.

[edit] References

1. ^ Bahr, Ronald. Ed. Clinical Guide to Sports Injuries. Gazette bok. ISBN 0-7360-4117-6.

[edit] External links

• -1583742916 at GPnotebook
• LUC tmn
• SUNY Figs 03:03-05

[edit] See also

• Accessory muscles of the scapula

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.

v • d • e List of muscles of upper limbs (TA A04.6, GA 4.432) Shoulder deltoid · rotator cuff (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis) · teres major fascia: Deltoid fascia · Supraspinous fascia · Infraspinous fascia Arm (compartments) Anterior coracobrachialis · biceps brachii · brachialis Posterior triceps brachii · anconeus · Articularis cubiti Fascia Axillary sheath · Axillary fascia · Brachial fascia · intermuscular septa (Lateral, Medial) Other spaces (Quadrangular space, Triangular space, Triangular interval) Forearm Anterior superficial: pronator teres · palmaris longus · flexor carpi radialis · flexor carpi ulnaris · flexor digitorum superficialis deep: pronator quadratus · flexor digitorum profundus · flexor pollicis longus Posterior superficial: mobile wad (brachioradialis, extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis) · extensor digitorum · extensor digiti minimi · extensor carpi ulnaris deep: supinator · anatomical snuff box (abductor pollicis longus, extensor pollicis brevis, extensor pollicis longus) · extensor indicis Fascia Bicipital aponeurosis · common tendons (Extensor, Flexor) · Antebrachial fascia Other Cubital tunnel Hand Lateral volar thenar (opponens pollicis, flexor pollicis brevis, abductor pollicis brevis) · adductor pollicis Medial volar hypothenar (opponens digiti minimi, flexor digiti minimi brevis, abductor minimi digiti) · palmaris brevis Intermediate lumbrical · interossei (dorsal, palmar) Fascia posterior: Extensor retinaculum · Extensor expansion anterior: Flexor retinaculum · Palmar aponeurosis

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