As a rotator cuff muscle, the teres minor stabilizes the ball-and-socket glenohumeral joint by helping hold the humeral head (ball) into the shallow glenoid cavity of the scapula (socket). The teres minor also laterally, or externally, rotate the arm at the shoulder joint.

Why is the teres minor important?

The teres minor muscle is important in maintaining shoulder stability in the presence of other rotator cuff dysfunction. External rotation of the glenohumeral joint is produced mainly by the infraspinatus and teres minor force couple. These two muscles are difficult to differentiate in regard to strength and function.

What does the teres major muscle do?

The teres major is a medial rotator and adductor of the humerus and assists the latissimus dorsi in drawing the previously raised humerus downwards and backwards (extension, but not hyperextension). It also helps stabilise the humeral head in the glenoid cavity.

When do you use the teres minor?

Teres minor is one of four muscles that comprise what’s called the Rotator Cuff. It’s narrow and elongated in shape and sometimes may be fused with infraspinatus. Its main function is to stabilize the humerus in the glenoid fossa when the shoulder moves.

What does teres minor and major do?

Teres minor comprises its superior border, while teres major bounds it inferiorly, long head of triceps medially, and humeral shaft laterally. The function of this space is to provide passageway for the axillary nerve and posterior circumflex humeral artery, from the anterior to posterior shoulder regions.

What is the antagonist of the teres minor?

The teres minor: agonistic: anterior deltoid, latissimus dorsi, lower trapezius, pectoralis major, pectoralis minor, posterior deltoid, infraspinatus, rhomboid major, rhomboid minor, supraspinatus upper trapezius. antagonistic: middle deltoid, middle trapezius, serratus anterior, levator scapulae.

What muscle shape is teres minor?

Teres Minor Shape ‘Teres’ means ’round in shape’, while ‘minor’ means ‘small’. The muscle itself is rounded in shape.

What is the action of the teres major muscle quizlet?

medially rotated position, with the hand resting on the posterior iliac crest. of abduction and flexion. as well as adduction and extension of the humerus.

What is the difference between teres major and teres minor?

The Teres Major is part of the upper arm and works together with the Latissimus Dorsi to create certain movements. The Teres Minor is part of the rotator cuff which helps to keep the humeral head in the glenoid fossa and elevate and rotate the arm.

Where is the teres major and teres minor?

Teres major is a thick and ovoid muscle in the upper arm. Despite their similar names, Teres major has different actions and innervation from the Teres minor. It’s mainly responsible for the medial rotation of the arm and it also contributes to static posture and arm-swinging.

Article first time published on

Is the teres minor superficial?

Muscle Chart: Teres Minor (Superficial Back & Scapular)

Does Infraspinatus abduct?

Infraspinatus is the main external rotator of the shoulder joint. It assists in producing shoulder extension. With the arm fixed, it abducts the inferior angle of the scapula.

How do teres minor muscles heal?

Treatment is conservative, including rest, ice, and anti-inflammatory medications. Physical therapy can help to rebuild strength and range of motion in the shoulder. Any of the rotator cuff muscles, including the teres minor, can tear.

How do you stretch your teres minor muscle?

Relax your shoulders and gently pull one arm across your chest as far as possible, holding at your upper arm. Hold the stretch for 30 seconds and then relax for 30 seconds. Repeat with the other arm.

Why is my teres major sore?

Teres Major Syndrome, a myofascial pain syndrome affecting the teres major muscle, has been observed in patients. This can occur as a result of stretch or impact injuries from playing sports, vehicle accidents, or falls onto the lateral scapula.

Is teres minor a adductor?

Teres Minor can produce only very small scapular plane adduction during maximal contraction (Hughes RE, An KN 1996) with adductor moment arm of approximately 0.2 cm at 45° of shoulder internal rotation and approximately 0.1 cm at 45° of shoulder external rotation.

How long does it take for teres minor to heal?

Rotator cuff treatment. The minimum time for recovery from rotator cuff tendinitis or a small tear is generally two to four weeks, and stubborn cases can take several months.

Are teres minor tears common?

This is in part due to the fact that tears of the teres minor muscle or tendon are much less common than those of the supraspinatus, the infraspinatus, or the subscapularis. Teres minor tears have commonly been described in the context of large rotator cuff tears in which multiple other cuff tendons tear first.

Can you massage the teres minor?

The teres minor is relatively easy to access and relieve through shoulder self massage with Yoga Tune Up® Therapy Balls.

What causes fatty atrophy of the teres minor muscle?

In many individuals, the etiology of fatty infiltration of the teres minor remains unclear, and it can be related to a quadrilateral space syndrome, a traction injury on the axillary nerve during trauma, chronic rotator cuff tearing or disuse from functional impairment due to associated injuries.

What is a positive bear hug test?

Positive bear-hug and belly-press tests suggest a tear of at least 30% of the subscapularis, whereas a positive Napoleon test indicates that greater than 50% of the subscapularis is torn. Furthermore, a positive lift-off test is not found until at least 75% of the subscapularis is torn.

How do you know if you tore your Infraspinatus?

Infraspinatus tendon tears frequently occur in overhead athletes, as a result of overuse injury, or in chronic shoulder instability. The main complaints are pain while sleeping, weakness in the affected arm, and inability to move the arm in certain motions.

What muscle is synergist to teres minor?

Function. The infraspinatus is the main external rotator of the shoulder. When the arm is fixed, it adducts the inferior angle of the scapula. Its synergists are teres minor and the deltoid.

What muscles depress the shoulder?

Depression is accomplished through the force of gravity and the actions of the latissimus dorsi, serratus anterior, pectoralis major and minor, and the trapezius muscles. Upward rotation is accomplished by the trapezius and serratus anterior muscles.

What does the infraspinatus muscle do?

The infraspinatus muscle’s action on the shoulder is primarily through its function as a rotator cuff muscle providing glenohumeral stability. The rotator cuff applies compression upon the head of the humerus that allows for the stabilization of the humeral head during shoulder abduction.

Which movement of the shoulder is produced by contraction of the teres minor muscle?

Concentric contraction of the infraspinatus and teres minor muscles produces lateral rotation of the humerus.

Which of the following is an action of the teres major?

The main function of teres major is to produce the movements of the humerus at the glenohumeral joint; it pulls the anterior surface of the humerus medially towards the trunk (internal rotation). Furthermore, it can extend the arm from the flexed position.

What is the synergist muscle for teres major?

Teres major is a small muscle that runs along the lateral border of the scapula. It forms the inferior border of both the triangular space and quadrangular space. It’s sometimes called “lat’s little helper” because of its synergistic action with the latissimus dorsi.

What is the prime mover for shoulder flexion?

Muscles that have their origins in the anterior (front of) shoulder joint tend to flex the arm (pectoralis major, coracobrachialis and anterior fibres of the deltoid). Pectoralis major is the muscle which acts as prime mover in shoulder flexion. The biceps brachii assist this movement.

Which of the following is an action of the teres minor?

Action. Teres Minor, along with Infraspinatus, primarily produces external rotation of the shoulder joint. It assists in adduction and extension of the shoulder. When the humerus is stabilized, abducts the inferior angle of the scapula.

What muscles make up the rotator cuff?

• Subscapularis.
• Infraspinatus.
• Supraspinatus.
• Teres minor.