From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

Rhomboid minor muscle

Skeletal muscle of the upper back

Field	Value
Name	Rhomboid minor
Latin	musculus rhomboideus minor
Image	Rhomboideus minor.png
Caption	Muscles connecting the upper extremity to the vertebral column. (Rhomboid minor in red)
Origin	Nuchal ligaments and spinous processes of C7-T1
Insertion	Medial border of scapula, superior to the insertion of rhomboid major muscle
Blood	Deep branch of transverse cervical artery
Nerve	Dorsal scapular nerve (C4–5)
Action	Retracts and rotates scapula, fixes scapula to thoracic wall
Antagonist	Serratus anterior

In human anatomy, the rhomboid minor is a small skeletal muscle of the back that connects the scapula to the vertebrae of the spinal column. It arises from the nuchal ligament, the 7th cervical and 1st thoracic vertebrae and intervening supraspinous ligaments; it inserts onto the medial border of the scapula, and is innervated by the dorsal scapular nerve. It acts together with the rhomboid major to keep the scapula pressed against the thoracic wall.

Anatomy

Origin

The rhomboid minor arises from the inferior border of the nuchal ligament, from the spinous processes of the vertebrae C7–T1, and from the intervening supraspinous ligaments.

Insertion

It inserts onto a small area of the medial border of the scapula at the level of the scapular spine.

Innervation

It is innervated by the dorsal scapular nerve (a branch of the brachial plexus), with most of its fibers derived from the C5 nerve root and only minor contribution from C4 or C6.

Blood supply

The rhomboid minor receives arterial blood supply from the dorsal scapular artery.

Relations

It is located inferior to levator scapulae, and superior to rhomboid major.

It lies deep to trapezius, and superficial to the long spinal muscles.

Variation

It is usually separated from the rhomboid major by a slight interval, but the adjacent margins of the two muscles are occasionally united.Gray's Anatomy (1918), see infobox

Actions/movements

Together with the rhomboid major, the rhomboid minor retracts the scapula when the trapezius is contracted. Acting as a synergist to the trapezius, the rhomboid major and minor elevate the medial border of the scapula medially and upward, working in tandem with the levator scapulae muscle to rotate the scapulae downward. While other shoulder muscles are active, the rhomboid major and minor stabilize the scapula.

Additional images

References

(2024). "Anatomy, Back, Rhomboid Muscles". StatPearls Publishing.
Platzer, W. (2004). "Color Atlas of Human Anatomy, Vol. 1: Locomotor System". Thieme.
{{Cite GPnotebook. 194641998. rhomboid minor (anatomy)
[http://www.meddean.luc.edu/lumen/MedEd/GrossAnatomy/dissector/mml/rhmn.htm Origin, insertion and nerve supply of the muscle] at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
(2007). "Scapular winging: anatomical review, diagnosis, and treatments". Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine.
(2016). "Dorsal Scapular Artery Variations and Relationship to the Brachial Plexus, and a Related Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Case". Journal of Brachial Plexus and Peripheral Nerve Injury.
"Function (of rhomboid muscles)". GP Notebook. link

Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

muscles-of-the-upper-limb

Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about Rhomboid minor muscle — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report