💪 Teres Minor

Brian Lee
Review Pending

Summary

Origins

Upper two‑thirds of the lateral (axillary) border of the 🦴 scapula

Insertions

Inferior facet of the greater tubercle of the 🦴 humerus

Actions

External (lateral) rotation of the humerus

Weak adduction of the humerus

Assists in stabilizing the ⚙️ glenohumeral joint as part of the rotator cuff

Illustrations

Translations

French

petit rond

Russian

Большая круглая мышца

Notes

The teres minor muscle is usually not visible because it blends with the 💪 infraspinatus muscle. Both are covered by thick fascia. However, the teres minor may become visible if the arm is held straight out to the side, rotated outward, and pushed downward and backward against resistance.

One of the 📓 rotator cuff muscles.

Relative Positions of Teres Major and Minor Insertions

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

References

• 📕 Goldfinger 1991
  • 161
    • Usually not visible on the surface, blends with 💪 infraspinatus. Both muscles are covered by dense fascia.
    • May become visible when the arm is held horizontally, laterally rotated, and pushed downward and backward against resistance.
• 📕 Hale And Coyle 1977
  • 114: Anthony Van Dyck, Studies of a Woman Sleeping
    • “The mass (A) of the 💪 infraspinatus and the teres minor beneath it … which are outward rotators, are inactive.”
  • 252: Richer Plate 21, Lateral Aspect
• 💪 Infraspinatus
• 📓 Rotator Cuff
• Wikipedia