teres minor muscle
Noun: * A skeletal muscle of the shoulder joint. The teres minor muscle is one of the four rotator cuff muscles. Its primary functions are to externally rotate (rotate laterally) the arm at the shoulder and to weakly adduct (draw toward the body) the arm.
The term "teres minor muscle" is used in anatomical, medical, and fitness contexts to refer to a specific muscle. It is typically used with verbs related to anatomy, injury, or exercise. * Anatomy/Description: The teres minor muscle originates on the lateral border of the scapula and inserts on the greater tubercle of the humerus. * Injury/Health: A tear in the teres minor muscle can cause significant pain and limit shoulder rotation. * Exercise/Fitness: This exercise specifically targets and strengthens the teres minor muscle.
- Clinical Context: In medical reports, the muscle is often referenced by its full Latin name, , or simply as "teres minor." For example:
- Functional Description: It is often described in terms of its action:
- Teres minor: The most common abbreviated form used in professional contexts.
- Rotator cuff muscle: The functional group to which the teres minor belongs. The other three are the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and subscapularis muscles.
- Teres major muscle: A different, larger muscle located near the teres minor with a different primary function (internal rotation and adduction).
- There are no direct common-language synonyms for specific anatomical structures. In technical contexts, its Latin name () is equivalent.
- External rotation: The primary action performed by the teres minor muscle.
- Rotator cuff tear: A common type of injury that may involve the teres minor muscle.
- Shoulder stabilization: One of the key roles of the teres minor as part of the rotator cuff.
- teres muscle that adducts the arm and rotates it laterally