Teres Minor Muscle, Posterior View

Description

Centered on the posterior scapular region, the teres minor runs obliquely from the lateral border of the scapula to the inferior facet of the greater tubercle of the humerus, lying superior to the broader teres major and inferior to the infraspinatus. Laterally, its tendon disappears beneath the posterior deltoid as it approaches the glenohumeral joint capsule, while medially its muscular belly parallels the scapular spine and the infraspinous fossa. Surrounding context in this back view typically includes the trapezius over the upper thorax, the latissimus dorsi sweeping inferolaterally, and portions of the posterior arm extensors, with bony landmarks of the scapula and ribs implied under the superficial muscle layer. Teres minor is a small muscle. Teres minor matters because it is both a rotator cuff muscle and a landmark. It externally rotates the humerus with the infraspinatus, but clinicians often assess it separately when evaluating massive posterosuperior cuff tears, where selective teres minor atrophy can limit external rotation and affect outcomes after reverse shoulder arthroplasty. Along its inferior border with teres major, it helps define the quadrangular space, a corridor transmitting the axillary nerve and posterior circumflex humeral artery; this relationship explains posterior shoulder pain or deltoid weakness after nerve traction, dislocation, or iatrogenic injury. Use this posterior perspective for upper-limb anatomy teaching when introducing the scapular rotator cuff, tendon insertions on the greater tubercle, and surface landmarks for palpation in physical therapy and sports medicine modules. It also fits orthopedic and radiology publications illustrating rotator cuff tear patterns, axillary nerve vulnerability in the quadrangular space, and posterior surgical approaches to the shoulder. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.