subscapularis (muscle)


sub·scap·u·la·ris (mus·cle)

[TA] intrinsic (scapulohumeral) muscle of shoulder joint, the tendon of which contributes to the formation of the rotator cuff; origin, subscapular fossa; insertion, lesser tuberosity of humerus; action, rotates arm medially; its tonic contraction helps to hold the head of the humerus in the shallow glenoid fossa; nerve supply, upper and lower subscapular from posterior cord of brachial plexus (fifth and sixth cervical spinal nerves). Synonym(s): musculus subscapularis [TA], subscapular muscle