The teres major muscle is a muscle of the upper limb. It attaches to the scapula and the humerus and is one of the seven scapulohumeral muscles. It is a thick but somewhat flattened muscle.
The teres major muscle (from Latin teres, meaning "rounded") is positioned above the latissimus dorsi muscle and assists in the extension and medial rotation of the humerus. This muscle is commonly confused as a rotator cuff muscle, but it is not, because it does not attach to the capsule of the shoulder joint, unlike the teres minor muscle, for example.
Structure
The teres major muscle originates on the dorsal surface of the
Scapula and the lower part of the
Scapula of the
scapula.
The fibers of teres major insert into the medial lip of the Bicipital groove of the humerus.
Relations
The
tendon, at its insertion, lies behind that of the
latissimus dorsi, from which it is separated by a bursa, the two tendons being, however, united along their lower borders for a short distance. The fibers of these two muscles run parallel to each other, and both muscles insert at the crest of the
lesser tubercle of the humerus (also described as the medial lip of the intertubercular sulcus).
Together with teres minor muscle, teres major muscle forms the axillary space, through which several important arteries and veins pass.
Innervation
Teres major is supplied primarily by the lower subscapular nerve
and additionally by the thoracodorsal nerve (middle subscapular nerve). These are distal to the upper subscapular nerve. These three nerves branch off the
posterior cord of the
brachial plexus. The nerves that innervate teres major consist of fibers from spinal nerves C5-C8.
Function
The teres major is a medial rotator and adductor of the humerus and assists the latissimus dorsi in drawing the previously raised humerus downwards and backwards (extension, but not hyperextension). It also helps stabilise the humeral head in the
glenoid cavity.
Injury
Isolated teres major injuries are rare. They are almost exclusively encountered in professional and high-level recreational
Athlete—
Pitcher in particular. These injuries can be debilitating, requiring lengthy
Physical therapy periods and missed seasons of athletics. No clear indications for surgical treatment exist. Outcomes have been generally good after both nonoperative and operative treatment.
Additional images
File:Teres major muscle animation.gif|Position of teres major muscle (shown in red). Animation.
Image:Arm muscles back numbers.png |Muscles on the dorsum of the [[scapula]], and the Triceps brachii muscle:
#3 latissimus dorsi muscle
#5 teres major muscle
#6 teres minor muscle
#7 supraspinatus muscle
#8 infraspinatus muscle
#13 long head of triceps brachii muscle
Image:Gray1211.png |Surface anatomy of the back. (Label for Teres major at upper right.)
Image:Gray207.png|Left humerus. Anterior view.
File:Teres major muscle.JPG|Teres major muscle
Image:Gray203.png|Left scapula. Posterior surface.
File:Slide2aaaa.JPG|Teres major muscle
See also
-
Accessory muscles of the scapula
External links
