What anatomical structure is affected by a rotator cuff injury
John Johnson
Updated on April 22, 2026
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint, keeping the head of your upper arm bone firmly within the shallow socket of the shoulder. A rotator cuff injury can cause a dull ache in the shoulder, which often worsens with use of the arm away from the body.
What structures are involved in a rotator cuff tear?
- Supraspinatus. This holds your humerus in place and keeps your upper arm stable. …
- Infraspinatus. This is the main muscle that lets you rotate and extend your shoulder.
- Teres Minor. This is the smallest rotator cuff muscle. …
- Subscapularis.
What muscles are involved in rotator cuff injury?
Share on Pinterest Four muscles make up the rotator cuff: the subscapularis, teres minor, supraspinatus, and infraspinatus. Together they assist in stabilizing the shoulder joint as well as in performing various arm movements. Four muscles and their attached tendons make up the rotator cuff.
What is the anatomical function of the rotator cuff muscles?
During arm movements, the rotator muscles contract and prevent the sliding of the head of the humerus, allowing full range of motion and providing stability. Additionally, rotator cuff muscles help in the mobility of the shoulder joint by facilitating abduction, medial rotation, and lateral rotation.What part of the body does a shoulder injury affect?
A single shoulder injury can affect multiple muscles, ligaments, cartilage areas, tendons, and bones. Unfortunately, injuries are most likely to occur in those who rely on their shoulder the most—over-head athletes.
Where is the rotator cuff tendon located?
The rotator cuff tendons cover the head of the humerus (upper arm bone), helping you to raise and rotate your arm. There is a lubricating sac called a bursa between the rotator cuff and the bone on top of your shoulder (acromion). The bursa allows the rotator cuff tendons to glide freely when you move your arm.
What Innervates the rotator cuff?
MuscleOriginInnervationRotator cuff musclesSupraspinatusSupraspinous fossaSuprascapular nerveInfraspinatusInfraspinous fossaSubscapularisSubscapular FossaUpper and lower subscapular nerves
What does the supraspinatus do?
As part of the Rotator Cuff, supraspinatus helps to resist the gravitational forces which act on the shoulder joint to pull from the weight of the upper limb downward. It also helps to stabilize the shoulder joint by keeping the head of the humerus firmly pressed medially against the glenoid fossa of the scapula.Why is supraspinatus most commonly injured?
The supraspinatus tendon is the most commonly injured tendon of the four tendons because it lies predominantly in the space between the acromion and the humeral head.
Where do the rotator cuff muscles originate?The rotator cuff muscles are important in shoulder movements and in maintaining glenohumeral joint (shoulder joint) stability. These muscles arise from the scapula and connect to the head of the humerus, forming a cuff at the shoulder joint.
Article first time published onWhat are the rotator cuff muscles quizlet?
Supraspinatus, infraspinatus,teres minor and subscapularis are known as the rotator cuff muscles. They encompass and stabilize the glenohumeral joint.
Which muscle is part of the rotator cuff and originates on the lateral border of the scapula?
Teres minor: The teres minor muscle originates on the lateral scapula border and inserts on the inferior aspect of the greater tuberosity of the humerus.
Which muscle is not part of the rotator cuff set of muscles quizlet?
teres major is not one of the four rotator cuff muscles. their main function is to reinforce the capsula of the shoulder and rotate the humerus in the glenoid cavity.
Where would a rotator cuff injury hurt?
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint, keeping the head of your upper arm bone firmly within the shallow socket of the shoulder. A rotator cuff injury can cause a dull ache in the shoulder, which often worsens with use of the arm away from the body.
What tendons and ligaments are in the shoulder?
The tendons involved in the shoulder mainly include the long head of the biceps tendon and the tendons of the rotator cuff: supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis. Other supporting tendons include the pectoralis minor, coracobrachialis and the short head of the biceps.
What is the supraspinatus tendon?
The supraspinatus tendon is located on the back of your shoulder and helps your arm to move throughout its full range of motion – and helps with power and strength.
How the rotator cuff is formed?
They are also referred to as the SITS muscle, with reference to the first letter of their names (Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus,Teres minor, and Subscapularis, respectively). The muscles arise from the scapula and connect to the head of the humerus, forming a cuff around the glenohumeral (GH) joint.
What does the axillary nerve innervate?
The axillary nerve supplies three muscles in the arm: deltoid (a muscle of the shoulder), triceps (long head) and teres minor (one of the rotator cuff muscles).
What is the origin and insertion of the supraspinatus?
Structure. The supraspinatus muscle arises from the supraspinous fossa, a shallow depression in the body of the scapula above its spine. The supraspinatus muscle tendon passes laterally beneath the cover of the acromion. … The supraspinatus tendon is inserted into the superior facet of the greater tubercle of the humerus …
Where is the supraspinatus tendon located in the shoulder?
The supraspinatus muscle, the most superiorly located of the rotator cuff muscles, resides in the supraspinous fossa of the scapula, superior to the scapular spine.
Is the supraspinatus a muscle or tendon?
In the most lateral cross section, near the humeral insertion, the supraspinatus is entirely tendon from the anterior (left) to posterior portion of the structure.
What tendons are in the rotator cuff?
- subscapularis.
- supraspinatus.
- infraspinatus.
- teres minor.
Where is supraspinatus pain felt?
Supraspinatus pain is felt at the side of the shoulder in the middle section of the deltoid. In some cases, it can be felt further round the front of the shoulder.
What is supraspinatus tendinopathy of the shoulder?
Supraspinatus tendinopathy is a common source of shoulder pain in athletes that participate in overhead sports (handball, volleyball, tennis, baseball). This tendinopathy is in most cases caused by an impingement of the supraspinatus tendon on the acromion as it passes between the acromion and the humeral head.
What is the most common rotator cuff injury?
Shoulder impingement, a common cause of shoulder pain, occurs when the rotator cuff rubs or catches on the bones in the shoulder. Shoulder impingement causes persistent pain as the tendons are injured and swell. Left untreated, shoulder impingement can lead to rotator cuff tears.
What is a bony landmark to locate the supraspinatus muscle?
The supraspinatus originates in the supraspinous fossa (a shallow depression at the top of the scapula), and attaches on the greater tubercle (a bony landmark) of the head of the humerus.
What is a Subscapular fossa?
The subscapular fossa is a landmark of the scapula. As the name implies, it is on the deep side of the scapula. The subscapular fossa of the scapula is of functional importance because it is the origin for: … the subscapularis muscle (one of the four rotator cuff muscles).
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.
What are the two rotator cuff muscles located on the posterior aspect of the scapula that lie inferior to the spine of the scapula?
It is inferior (infra-) to the scapular spine (spinatus). The spine of the scapula separates the supraspinatus and infraspinatus, which wraps around the humerus and attaches distally to the greater tuberosity. The infraspinatus is an external rotator of the glenohumeral joint and assists in abduction of the arm.
What is the function of the rotator cuff quizlet?
As one of the four muscles of the rotator cuff, the main function is to externally rotate the humerus and stabilize the shoulder joint. A slim, narrow muscle within the rotator cuff, located in the shoulder. It is involved in the external rotation of the shoulder joint.
Which of the rotator cuff muscles is most commonly injured in a rotator cuff tear '? Quizlet?
Tears in the tendons of these muscles are called rotator cuff tears. The most commonly affected muscle is the supraspinatus. A combination of susceptible anatomy and a lifetime of wear and tear can cause mechanical abrasion and impingement of the supraspinatus on the acromion bone.