Supraspinatus muscle

Supraspinatus Muscle

The Supraspinatus muscle (pronunciation: soo-pruh-spy-nay-tuhs muhs-uhl) is one of the four muscles of the rotator cuff, which is located in the shoulder region of the human body.

Etymology

The term 'Supraspinatus' is derived from Latin, where 'Supra' means 'above' and 'spinatus' is derived from 'spina', meaning 'spine'. Thus, the term refers to the muscle's position above the spine of the scapula or shoulder blade.

Anatomy

The Supraspinatus muscle originates from the supraspinous fossa, a shallow depression above the spine of the scapula. It extends laterally, passing beneath the acromion, a bony process on the scapula, and inserts into the highest facet of the greater tubercle of the humerus.

Function

The primary function of the Supraspinatus muscle is to assist in the abduction of the arm at the shoulder joint, which means it helps to lift the arm sideways away from the body. It also plays a role in stabilizing the shoulder joint by holding the head of the humerus in the glenoid cavity of the scapula.

Related Terms

• Rotator cuff
• Shoulder
• Scapula
• Humerus
• Acromion

See Also

• Infraspinatus muscle
• Teres minor muscle
• Subscapularis muscle

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Supraspinatus muscle
• Wikipedia's article - Supraspinatus muscle

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