The Shoulder/Rotator Cuff

Question 1

Name the 4 Anatomic Regions (segments) of the Upper limb and the bones within.

Answer 1

Shoulder region–Scapula and Clavicle.
Arm (brachium)–Humerus.Elbow/cubital fossa region.
Forearm (antebrachium)–Radius and Ulna.
Wrist/Hand–Carpals, Metacarpals, and Phalanges.

Question 2

What are the six palpable areas of the shoulder region?

Answer 2

Superior border of the clavicle.
Acromion of Scapula.
Greater tubercle of humerus.
Spine of scapula
Medial border of scapula
Inferior angle of scapula.

Question 3

What is the most fractured bone in the body?
What part of the body is anchored to it?
What does it articulate to joints with?
Name its two ends and its main joint?

Answer 3

Clavicle
Anchors arm to body. (Does not move.)
Discs.
Sternal end, Acromial end, Acromioclavicular joint.

Question 4

Where is the Glenoid cavity. What is its shape and why is it shaped that way?

Answer 4

On the scapula at the lateral end of the spine. A shallow cavity like a golf tee. Gives the humerus freedom of movement.

Question 5

What is the name given to the two tubercles and groove?
What are their official names?
What goes through the groove?

Answer 5

Greater Intertuberculatesser.
Greater tubercle. Lesser tubercle.Intertubercular groove.
Biceps femoris (long head) tendon.

Question 6

What is the official name for the shoulder joint?
What surrounds the head of the humerus?
What is it like?
What ligament does the tendon of the long head biceps brachii travel through at the groove?

Answer 6

Glenohumeral joint.
Glenohumeral ligament and Coracohumeral lig.
Capsule like a sock. 
Allows lots of movement.
Transverse humeral lig.

Question 7

Where does all the support for the shoulder come from?

Answer 7

Muscles and ligaments.

Question 8

Name the six Scapulohumoral muscles.

Answer 8

Deltoid
Supraspinatus.
Infraspinatus
Subscapularis
Teres major
Teres minor.

Question 9

What are the four rotator cuff proper m?F?

What is a rotator tear?

Answer 9

Supraspinatus
Teres Minor
Subscapularis.
Rotation/Stabilization.
A tear of one tendon of one of the muscles.

Question 10

Deltoid
A? 3 origin, 1 insert
F? 3
N? 1

Answer 10

A: orig. Anterior: Anterior border of lateral 1/3 of Clavicle,
Posterior: Inferior edge of Spine of scapula,
Middle: Lateral margin of acromion,

insert. deltoid tuberosity of humerus.

F: Abductor (past 15”), Ant: Flex arm at shoulder, Post: Extend arm.

N: Axillary n.

Question 11

Supraspinatus
A? orig, ins
F? 2
N?

Answer 11

A: orig. Medial 2/3 of Supraspinous fossa (Fills whole fossa), runs under Acromium,

Insert. Superior facet of Greater tuberosity of humerus.

F: Abductor (Initiates 1st 15 degrees of abd. before deltoid takes over.)

N: Suprascapular N.

Question 12

Infraspinatus
A? 2
F?
N?

Answer 12

A: orig.Med. 2/3 of Infraspinous fossa,

insert. Middle facet on Greater tubercle of humerus.

F: Lateral rotation (hand goes out and back )

N: Suprascapular n.

Question 13

Teres Minor
A? 2
F?
N?

Answer 13

A: orig. Lateral border of Scapula (upper 2/3 of a flattened strip of bone),

insert.. Inferior facet on Greater tubercle of humerus.

F: Lateral rotation (pulls humerus posterially)

N: Axillary n. (teres minor and deltoid)

Question 14

Subscapularis
A? 2
F? 1
N? 2

Answer 14

A: orig. med 2/3 of Subscapular fossa,

insert. Lesser tubercle of humerus

F: Arm adduction and Medial rotation (Stronger action than lateral rotation. Due to larger muscle groups associate with action.)

N: Upper and Lower supscapular n.

Question 15

Teres Major
A? 2
F? 2
N? 
What landmark does it form?

Answer 15

A; orig. Inferior angle of scapula,

insert. Medial lip of intertubercular sulcus on Anterior humerus (ant hum, post. scapula)

F: Medial rotation, extension of the arm.

N: Inferior subscapular n.

Forms lower border of axilla (armpit)

Question 16

What is the Teres Major not?

Size compared to teres minor?

Answer 16

NOT a rotator cuff muscle.

Bigger.

Question 17

What is the relationship between the subscapularis and teres major? (2)

Answer 17

Both are medial rotators, have anterior attachments, are geographically close to each other, and both share the lower subscapular n.

Question 18

Triceps Brachii (Long head)
A: Orig, Insert.
N:
F: 2

Answer 18

Long head
Orig.: Infraglenoid tubercle on scapula

Insert: Medial and Lateral heads of olecranon process on the ulna…Common tendon insertion.

N: Radial Nerve

F: Extension of forearm and extension of glenohumeral joint (arm). Accessory adductor.

Question 19

What passes through the quandrangular space?

What muscles form its border?

Answer 19

A passageway for axillary nerve and posterior circumflex humeral artery and vein passing anterior to posterior.

1. The inferior margin of the the teres minor.
2. The surgical neck of the humerus.
3. The superior margin of the teres major.
4. The lateral margin of the long head of the triceps brachii.

Question 20

What passes through the Triangular Space?
What muscles form its border?
What is it?

Answer 20

The circumflex scapular artery and vein (in the viscinity but doesn’t always travel through).

1. The medial margin of the long head of the triceps brachii.
2. The superior margin of the teres major.
3. The inferior margin of the teres minor.

Communication between axilla and posterior scapula.

Question 21

What passes through the Triangular Interval?
What muscles form its border?
What is it?

Answer 21

Radial nerve. Profunda brachii arter (deep artery of the arm).

1. The lateral margin of the long head of the triceps brachii.
2. The shaft of the humerus.
3. The inferior margin of the teres major.

Passageway between posterior compartments of the arm and axilla.