The Teres Minor Muscle of a Male Viewed from a Posterior Full Body Perspective

Description

Positioned on the posterolateral scapula, the teres minor is highlighted as it arises from the upper to middle lateral border of the scapula and courses laterally to its tendon insertion on the inferior facet of the greater tubercle of the humerus. Superior to it sits the infraspinatus, while the long head of triceps runs inferiorly from the infraglenoid tubercle and forms a clear boundary at the lateral edge of the scapula. Anterior to the tendon lies the posterior aspect of the glenohumeral joint, with the humeral head deep to the rotator cuff. This is a compact space. For teaching the rotator cuff, a posterior full body perspective clarifies why teres minor contributes to external rotation and posterior stabilization while sharing a common footprint neighborhood with infraspinatus on the greater tubercle. Clinically, teres minor weakness is a familiar finding in quadrilateral space syndrome, where the axillary nerve and posterior circumflex humeral artery can be compressed between teres minor superiorly, teres major inferiorly, the long head of triceps medially, and the surgical neck of the humerus laterally. That relationship matters when tracing the source of posterior shoulder pain and deltoid or teres minor atrophy, and it also helps orient the posterior surgical approach to the shoulder. Orthopedic and sports medicine courses use this view to separate teres minor from infraspinatus during rotator cuff instruction, and to anchor discussions of axillary nerve risk during posterior shoulder dissection, arthroscopy portals, and fracture care near the surgical neck. Medical publishers can pair it with MRI or ultrasound teaching figures to reinforce tendon insertion anatomy at the greater tubercle. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.