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University of Connecticut School of Medicine Human Anatomy Module

Learn: Shoulder, Pectoral Region, and Axilla

Directions: Click on a card below to show the details for each muscle.

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PECTORAL REGION

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     Pectoralis major muscle

Origin Clavicular head: anterior surface of medial half of clavicle
Sternocostal head: anterior surface of sternum, superior six costal cartilages, aponeurosis of external oblique muscle
Insertion Lateral lip of intertubercular groove of humerus
Innervation Medial and lateral pectoral nerves
Artery Pectoral branch of thoracoacromial artery
Action Adduction of humerus; medial rotation of humerus; draws scapula anteriorly and inferiorly; flexes humerus (clavicular head); extends humerus from flexed position (sternocostal head)
Pectoralis major

     Pectoralis minor muscle

Origin Anterior surfaces and superior borders of ribs 3-5; deep fascia that lies over related intercostal spaces
Insertion Coracoid process of scapula
Innervation Medial pectoral nerve
Artery Pectoral branch of thoracoacromial artery
Action Draws scapula inferiorly and anteriorly to stabilize it
Pectoralis minor

     Subclavius muscle

Origin Junction of first rib and its costal cartilage
Insertion Inferior surface of middle third of clavicle
Innervation Nerve to subclavius
Artery Clavicular branch of thoracoacromial artery
Action Anchors and depresses clavicle
Subclavius

     Serratus anterior muscle

Origin Lateral surfaces of ribs 1-8 and deep fascia overlying the related intercostal spaces
Insertion Costal surface of medial border of scapula
Innervation Long thoracic nerve
Artery Lateral thoracic artery
Action Protraction and rotation of scapula; keeps medial border and inferior angle of scapula opposed to thoracic wall
Serratus anterior

EXTRINSIC SHOULDER MUSCLES

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     Trapezius muscle

Origin Superior nuchal line, external occipital protuberance, ligamentum nuchae, spinous processes of CVII to TXII
Insertion Lateral one-third of clavicle, acromion, spine of scapula
Innervation Motor-accessory nerve [XI]; proprioception-C3 and C4
Artery Transverse cervical artery, dorsal scapular artery
Action Assists in rotating the scapula during abduction of humerus above horizontal; upper fibers elevate, middle fibers adduct, and lower fibers depress scapula
Trapezius

     Latissimus dorsi muscle

Origin Spinous processes of T7-T12 and related interspinous ligaments; thoracolumbar fascia; and iliac crest; ribs 9-12
Insertion Floor of intertubercular groove of humerus
Innervation Thoracodorsal nerve
Artery Thoracodorsal artery
Action Adducts, extends, and medially rotates humerus; raises body toward arms during climbing
Latissimus dorsi

     Levator scapulae muscle

Origin Transverse processes of CI to CIV
Insertion Upper portion medial border of scapula
Innervation C3 to C4 and dorsal scapular nerve
Artery Dorsal scapular artery
Action Elevates scapula
Levator scapulae

     Rhomboid minor muscle

Origin Lower portion of ligamentum nuchae, spinous processes of CVII and TI
Insertion Medial border of scapula at the spine of scapula
Innervation Dorsal scapular nerve
Artery Dorsal scapular artery
Action Retracts (adducts) and elevates scapula
Rhomboid minor

     Rhomboid major muscle

Origin Spinous processes of TII to TV
Insertion Medial border of scapula between spine and inferior angle
Innervation Dorsal scapular nerve
Artery Dorsal scapular artery
Action Retracts (adducts) and elevates scapula
Rhomboid major

INTRINSIC SHOULDER MUSCLES

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     Deltoid muscle

Origin Lateral third of clavicle, acromion, and spine of scapula
Insertion Deltoid tuberosity of humerus
Innervation Axillary nerve
Artery Deltoid branch of thoracoacromial artery, posterior humeral circumflex artery
Action Abducts, adducts, flexes, extends, and rotates arm medially and laterally

 

Deltoid (anterior)

     Supraspinatus muscle

Origin Supraspinous fossa of the scapula
Insertion Most superior facet on the greater tubercle of the humerus
Innervation Suprascapular nerve
Artery Suprascapular artery
Action Rotator cuff muscle; initiation of abduction of arm to 15° at glenohumeral joint
Supraspinatus

     Infraspinatus muscle

Origin Infraspinous fossa of the scapula
Insertion Middle facet on posterior surface of the greater tubercle of the humerus
Innervation Suprascapular nerve
Artery Suprascapular artery, circumflex scapular artery
Action Rotator cuff muscle; lateral rotation of arm at the glenohumeral joint
Infraspinatus

     Teres minor muscle

Origin Middle part of lateral border of scapula
Insertion Inferior facet on the posterior surface of the greater tubercle of the humerus
Innervation Axillary nerve
Artery Circumflex scapular artery, subscapular artery
Action Rotator cuff muscle; lateral rotation of arm at the glenohumeral joint
Teres minor

     Teres major muscle

Origin Posterior surface of inferior angle of scapula
Insertion Medial lip of the intertubercular sulcus on the anterior surface of the humerus
Innervation Lower subscapular nerve
Artery Circumflex scapular artery, subscapular artery
Action Adduction and medial rotation of arm
Teres major

     Subscapularis muscle

Origin Medial two-thirds of subscapular fossa
Insertion Lesser tubercle of humerus
Innervation Upper and lower subscapular nerves
Artery Subscapular artery
Action Rotator cuff muscle; medial rotation of the arm at the glenohumeral joint
Teres major

Overview

  • (Right side of body) Heart → aorta → brachiocephalic trunk → right subclavian artery
  • (Left side of body) Heart → aorta →left subclavian artery
  • Subclavian artery becomes the axillary artery after it crosses the first rib
  • Axillary artery is divided into three parts.
    • Each part has the same number of branches (i.e., part 1 has 1 branch, part 2 has 2 branches, part 3 has 3 branches) (see chart below)
      • Note: Besides coming directly off of the subclavian artery, the dorsal scapular artery can also come off of the transverse cervical artery. When this happens, it is called the deep branch of transverse cervical artery.
  • Axillary artery becomes brachial artery after the inferior border of teres major muscle

Subclavian Artery, Axillary Artery, and Branches

Arteries

Axillary Artery

Axillary artery map

Nerves

Brachial plexus

Important Spaces in Posterior Scapular Region

Spaces in shoulder

  1. Triangular space
    1. Borders
      1. Teres major
      2. Triceps brachii (long head)
      3. Teres minor
    2. Contents
      1. Circumflex scapular artery
  2. Quadrangular space
    1. Borders
      1. Teres major
      2. Humerus
      3. Teres minor
      4. Triceps brachii (long head)
    2. Contents
      1. Axillary nerve
      2. Posterior humeral circumflex artery
  3. Triangular interval
    1. Borders
      1. Teres major
      2. Triceps brachii (long head)
      3. Humerus
    2. Contents
      1. Profunda brachii artery
      2. Radial nerve

Matching: Innervations of Muscles in Shoulder, Pectoral Region, and Axilla

Innervations of Muscles in Shoulder, Pectoral Region, and Axilla

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