Q34 Rotator Cuff

Question 1

Name the muscles involved

Answer 1

.Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus, Subscapularis and Teres minor muscles.

Question 2

State the attachments of the Supraspinatus muscle

Answer 2

.Proximal attachment: medial two-thirds of the supraspinatus fossa.
Distal attachment: the tendon attaches to the superior facet on the greater tubercle of the humerus.

Question 3

List the actions of each of the rotator cuff muscles

Answer 3

.Supraspinatus: initiates the initial abduction of the shoulder
Infraspinatus and Teres Minor: Lateral rotation of the humerus
Subscapularis: Medial rotation of the Humerus

Question 4

Briefly describe the importance of these muscles as a group

Answer 4

.The rotator cuff muscles stabilise the head of the humerus in the small and shallow glenoid fossa of the scapula to prevent unwanted shearing movement caused by the more powerful muscles acting over the shoulder joint .