The teres major is a muscle of the upper limb. The teres major attaches to the scapula and the humerus. It is a thick but marginally flattened muscle.
The teres major is situated superior to the latissimus dorsi and avails 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 affix to the capsule of the shoulder joint, unlike the teres minor for example.
Origin:
Lower lateral border and inferior angle of the scapula
Insertion:
Medial lip of the intertubercular groove(bicipital) of the anterior humerus
Actions of the teres major muscle
Adducts the arm at the shoulder joint(glenohumeral).
Medially rotates the arm at the shoulder joint(glenohumeral).
Extends the arm at the shoulder joint (glenohumeral).
Nerve supply of the teres major muscle
The lower subscapular nerve
Nerve roots: C5, C6, and C7
Upper Extremity Muscle Atlas
- Abductor Pollicis Longus
- Abductor Digiti Minimi
- Abductor Pollicis Brevis
- Adductor Pollicis
- Anconeus
- Biceps Brachii
- Brachioradialis
- Brachialis
- Coracobrachialis
- Deltoid
- Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus
- Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis
- Extensor Carpi Ulnaris
- Extensor Digitorum
- Extensor Digiti Minimi
- Extensor Indicis
- Extensor Pollicis Longus
- Extensor Pollicis Brevis
- Flexor Carpi Radialis
- Flexor Carpi Ulnaris
- Flexor Digitorum Profundus
- Flexor Digitorum Superficialis
- Flexor Digiti Minimi Brevis
- Flexor Pollicis Brevis
- Flexor Pollicis Longus
- Infraspinatus
- Interosseous Muscles, Dorsal
- Interosseous Muscles, Palmar
- Levator Scapulae
- Latissimus Dorsi
- Opponens Digiti Minimi
- Opponens Pollicis
- Pectoralis Major
- Pectoralis Minor
- Palmaris Longus
- Pronator Quadratus
- Pronator Teres
- Rhomboid Major and Minor
- Subscapularis
- Supinator