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Teres minor

Contents

Anatomy

 

Teres minor - posterior view
Teres minor - posterolateral view
Teres minor - lateral view

General information

  • This section is strictly limited to anatomy, you might be looking for clinical relevant information which is found under the clinical chapters -- muscles section, click here to go to that page

Position

  • Superficial

Origin

  • Margo lateralis scapula
    • Superior aspect

Insertion

  • Tuberculum majus humerus
    • Inferior facet

Main function

  • Shoulder
    • Lateral rotation

Secondary function

  • Shoulder
    • Adduction

Nerve innervation

  • Segmental
    • C5-C6
  • Peripheral
    • Axillaris nerve

Arterial supply

  • Circumflex scapular artery
  • Posterior circumflex humeral artery

Palpation of the muscle belly

  • Patient position
    • Prone
  • Place the patient's arm just outside the edge of the treatment bench
  • Palpate just lateral to the superior part of margo lateralis on the scapula
  • Note that it may be difficult to seperate between the infraspinatus and teres minor, of the two the teres minor is localized inferiorly to the infraspinatus
  • To distinguish further, ask the patient to perform a lateral rotation of the shoulder while you feel for the contraction

Palpation of the distal tendon

  • Patient position
    • Prone
  • Place the patient's arm outside the edge of the treatment table
  • Hold the patient's arm in passive flexion
  • Palpate the tuberculum majus and then palpate further to the most posterior and inferior part of the tuberculum majus
  • To further distinguish the tendon, ask the patient to perform a lateral rotation of the shoulder while you feel for tension in the tendon

Strength test

  • Patient position
    • Sitting
  • This test is also testing the strength of infraspinatus and not solely the teres minor
  • Place the patient arm in a 90° abduction of the shoulder joint
  • The upper arm is resting on the bench while the lower arm is hanging outside the edge of the treatment bench
  • Place the arm in a 70° lateral rotated position
  • Place a arm under the patient's elbow to stabilize the patient's arm while your hand is put on the dorsal side of the lower arm
  • Give resistance in medial rotation so that the patient is giving force towards lateral rotation