Definition

Noun: * A skeletal muscle located in the upper back. It is a thin, four-sided muscle that lies beneath the rhomboid muscles. Its primary function is to assist in elevating the upper ribs during inhalation.

Usage

This is a specific anatomical term. It is used in medical, anatomical, and physiological contexts to refer to this particular muscle. * Example: "The serratus posterior superior is innervated by the intercostal nerves." * Example: "During forced inhalation, the serratus posterior superior helps to lift the rib cage."

Advanced Usage

• The muscle is often discussed in relation to respiratory mechanics or in the differential diagnosis of upper back pain.
• Example: "Dysfunction or trigger points in the serratus posterior superior can refer pain to the scapular region."

Variants and Related Words

• Serratus posterior inferior: The corresponding muscle in the lower back that acts to depress the lower ribs.
• Serratus anterior: A different, larger muscle on the lateral chest wall that protracts the scapula.

Synonyms

• Superior posterior serratus muscle: A less common alternative name that follows a different word order.

Different Meanings

This term has only one specific meaning in modern English: the anatomical structure described above. It is not used idiomatically or in non-scientific contexts.

Noun

1. a thin quadrilateral muscle of the upper and dorsal part of the thorax; acts to elevate the upper ribs