Rotator cuff muscles
Musculi cuffiae musculotendineae
- Latin synonym: Musculi manicae rotatoriae
Definition
The rotator cuff muscles are a group of four muscles and their associated tendons that provide stability and facilitate movement of the shoulder joint. These muscles are:
Supraspinatus: Assists with abduction of the arm.
Infraspinatus: Assists with external rotation of the arm.
Teres Minor: Assists with external rotation of the arm.
Subscapularis: Assists with internal rotation of the arm.
The rotator cuff muscles work together to stabilize the head of the humerus within the glenoid cavity of the scapula, allowing for a wide range of shoulder movements and maintaining joint stability.
References
Mulla DM, Hodder JN, Maly MR, Lyons JL, Keir PJ. Glenohumeral stabilizing roles of the scapulohumeral muscles: Implications of muscle geometry. J Biomech. 2020 Feb 13;100:109589.
Jones, O. (2024) ‘The Intrinsic Muscles of the Shoulder’, TeachMeAnatomy. Last updated: September 28, 2024. Available at: https://teachmeanatomy.info/upper-limb/muscles/shoulder/intrinsic/
