💪 Teres Major

Brian Lee

Summary

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Relative Positions of Teres Major and Minor Insertions

Teres minor attaches just behind and above on the greater tubercle, while teres major grips the front of the humerus along the medial edge of the bicipital groove.

Etymology

The term “teres major” refers to a muscle in the upper limb, specifically located in the shoulder area. The etymology of “teres major” comes from Latin:

• “Teres” means “round” or “smooth,” indicating the shape of the muscle.
• “Major” means “greater” or “larger,” distinguishing it from the “teres minor” muscle, which is smaller and has a different function.

So, “teres major” essentially translates to “the larger round muscle.” This muscle is involved in the movement of the shoulder and the upper arm, specifically aiding in actions such as internal rotation, adduction, and extension of the humerus.

References

• Teres Major (Wikipedia)
• teres minor|linktitle}}
• Goldfinger 1991, 162–63