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The trapezius, rhomboids, levator scapula, pectoralis minor, and serratus anterior are the muscles that contribute to the scapula's motion. These muscles are attached to the scapula and the spine or rib cage. Optimal scapula motion is essential for optimal shoulder and upper extremity motion. 

Lesson 7: Scapular Muscles

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The scapula, or shoulder blade, serves as the foundation for the humerus, the bone of the upper arm. Proper movement of the scapula is crucial for aligning the glenoid fossa, the shoulder socket, with the head of the humerus. This alignment is essential for maintaining upper limb stability during all types of movements.

Scapula Muscles in Action: Key Examples and Functions

The muscles responsible for moving the scapula (shoulder blade) and shoulder girdle (including the scapulothoracic joint, acromioclavicular joint, and sternoclavicular joint) are the pectoralis minor, rhomboids, serratus anterior, trapezius, and levator scapulae. The strength of these muscles is crucial for scapular stability, as the scapula does not have a direct bony attachment to the rib cage. Additionally, these muscles facilitate scapular motion. For example, during the shoulder press exercise, the upper trapezius, lower trapezius, and serratus anterior work together to achieve upward rotation when the shoulder abducts. In a cable row, the middle trapezius and rhomboids are engaged in scapular retraction as the shoulder extends. The serratus anterior is the primary muscle for scapular protraction, playing a key role in stabilizing and moving the scapula during exercises like the bench press.

These muscles are crucial for maintaining optimal posture by preventing scapular dyskinesis (less than optimal scapular motion). They also help ensure the alignment and stability of the cervical and thoracic spine. As mentioned above, these muscles are also important for maintaining optimal shoulder alignment and preventing maladaptive changes in shoulder arthrokinematics.

Importance of Scapular Muscles for Future Courses:

Sports medicine professionals—including personal trainers, fitness instructors, physical therapists, massage therapists, chiropractors, occupational therapists, and athletic trainers—must thoroughly understand the muscles of the scapula. This knowledge is critical for analyzing human movement and designing advanced exercise programs and rehabilitation interventions. Mastery of scapular anatomy is foundational for future studies on shoulder anatomy, including muscles originating from the lateral border of the scapula and extending across the shoulder, as well as the muscles of the elbow, such as the triceps brachii and the back, like the latissimus dorsi.

Advanced coursework will delve into injury and pain management, addressing issues like muscle weakness, scapular dyskinesis, and shoulder pain. Students will also learn palpation techniques, such as using the inferior angle to assess beneath the scapula. Further, strategies for optimizing muscle activity can enhance scapular movement and upper limb strength, which is crucial for sports performance.

Continuing Education and Certification Approved Final Exam

Additional advanced courses on the anatomy of these muscles: 

This is the rhomboids, one of 5 muscles responsible for scapula motion. The rhomboids contribute to retraction, elevation, and downward rotation of the scapula.

Course Description: Scapular Muscles

Scapular Muscle Study Guide

Study Guide: Scapular Muscles

In this video, we describe the muscles of the scapula (a.k.a. scapulothoracic joint or shoulder girdle) including the pectoralis minor, rhomboids, serratus anterior, trapezius, and levator scapulae. This includes a description of relative location, joint actions, functional roles, and examples of their contribution to a variety of exercises, sport motions, and daily activity. For example, the serratus anterior is located on the ribcage and is responsible for protraction and stability of the scapula during shoulder horizontal adduction of the shoulder, which are the joint actions occurring during a bench press and push-up. This is foundational knowledge for all movement professionals, including personal trainers, physical therapists, athletic trainers, massage therapists, chiropractors, occupational therapists, etc.

Video Lesson: Scapular Muscles

These muscles originate on the rib cage and spine (axial skeleton) and insert into the scapula, and may be referred to as 

. These muscles are responsible for motion of the scapula and shoulder girdle (occasionally referred to as the scapulothoracic joint), but actually the combined motion of the sternoclavicular and acromioclavicular joints - for a review head to 

Note: These muscles do not cross the shoulder/glenohumeral joint!

 Before we start analyzing the function of each muscle, make a word bank for yourself. What are the joint actions of the scapula? The muscles in this lecture must perform joint actions in this word bank… they cannot perform any other actions. For example, there is no such thing as 

The attachment of the serratus anterior muscle running from the scapula to the ribcage

The attachment of pectoralis minor muscle running from the coracoid process to ribs 3, 4 &amp; 5

The attachment of the trapezius muscles running the entire length of the upper back

The attachment of the levator scapulae muscle running from the cervical spine to the scapula

The attachment of the rhomboid muscle running from the spine to the scapula

Study Guide

Introduction

You did this exercise in a previous lesson 

Joints of the Shoulder Girdle and Scapular Joint Actions

List the 8 joint actions discussed above (Note: Internal and External Rotation of the scapula not included in this lesson)

Identify the plane that each joint action occurs.

Choose an exercise that includes each joint action

What joints dictate the motion of the scapula?

What is the only bony connection between the shoulder girdle and the rest of the body?

Scapular Joint Actions and Exercises Answer Sheet

Scapular Joint Actions and Exercises

 "notched," 1660s, from Latin serratus "sawlike, notched like a saw," from serra "a saw," of unknown origin. Related: 

 1610s, Latin, literally "former," comparative of ante "before" (see 

Serratus Anterior - http://www.shoulderdoc.co.uk/images/uploaded/lateral%20view2.jpg

A posterior view of the serratus anterior muscle on the scapula

Serratus Anterior Activity

Serratus Anterior Answer Key

Serratus Anterior

 early 15c., "ornament worn on the breast," from Middle French pectoral and directly from Latin pectorale "breastplate," noun use of neuter of adjective pectoralis (see 

 (adj.)). - As a shortened form of pectoral muscle, attested from 1758. Slang shortening pec for this is first recorded 1966. Related: Pectorals; pecs. (

 (n.)), from Latin minor "less, lesser, smaller, junior," figuratively "inferior, less important," formed as a masculine/feminine form of minus on the mistaken assumption that minus was a neuter comparative, from PIE root *mei- (2) "small" (see 

"Smaller of the muscles "worn" on the chest

Pectoralis Minor - CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=239283

A lateral view of the pectoralis minor muscle on the scapula and ribcage

Pectoralis Minor Activity

Pectoralis Minor Answer Key

Pectoralis Minor

 muscle over the back of the neck, 1704, from Modern Latin trapezius (musculus), masc. adjective from trapezium (see 

So-called from the shape they form, as in 

Trapezius. Upper fibers are in orange, middle fibers are in red, and lower fibers are in purple. - By Anatomography - en:Anatomography (setting page of this image)., CC BY-SA 2.1 jp, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22182550

 External occipital protuberance of skull, spinous process C7, and T1-T12

 Acromion process, spine of the scapula, and lateral 1/3 of the clavicle

Note: The trapezius muscle is divided into 3 distinct parts, each capable of a different action (and an additional action being shared by both the upper the lower trapezius)

Trapezius Activity

Trapezius Answer Key

Levator Scapulae

The muscles of the scapula, which includes the rhomboids, pectoralis minor, levator scapulae, serratus anterior, and trapezius muscles

Levator Scapulae Activity

Levator Scapulae Answer Key

Trapezius

 1560s, from Late Latin rhombus, from Greek rhombos "rhombus, rhomb - (source also of Old English weorpan "to throw away"), from root *wer- (3) "to turn, bend" (see 

Rhomboids - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Rhomboidei.PNG[/caption]

An image of the rhomboids running from the spine to the scapula

Rhomboids Activity 

Rhomboid Answer Key

Rhomboids

List the joint action, corresponding plane, all of the muscles that will contribute to that joint action, and a sample exercise.

The first action has been done for you as a sample:

Activity: Putting It All Together Answer Key

Activity: Putting It All Together

Carolyn Richardson, Paul Hodges, Julie Hides. Therapeutic Exercise for Lumbo Pelvic Stabilization – A Motor Control Approach for the Treatment and Prevention of Low Back Pain: 2nd Edition (c) Elsevier Limited, 2004

John V. Basmajian, Carlo J. De Luca. Muscles Alive: Their Function Revealed by ElectroMyography. 1985

Bibliography

Questions, comments, and criticisms are welcomed and encouraged

Lesson 7: Scapular Muscles

Related Courses:

Course Description: Scapular Muscles

Study Guide: Scapular Muscles

Video Lesson: Scapular Muscles

Introduction
1 Sub Section

Scapular Joint Actions and Exercises
1 Sub Section

Serratus Anterior
2 Sub Sections

Pectoralis Minor
2 Sub Sections

Trapezius
5 Sub Sections

Rhomboids
2 Sub Sections

Activity: Putting It All Together
1 Sub Section

Bibliography

Related Courses:

Comments

Guest

Lesson 7: Scapular Muscles

Related Courses:

Course Description: Scapular Muscles

Study Guide: Scapular Muscles

Video Lesson: Scapular Muscles

Introduction1 Sub Section

Scapular Joint Actions and Exercises1 Sub Section

Serratus Anterior2 Sub Sections

Pectoralis Minor2 Sub Sections

Trapezius5 Sub Sections

Rhomboids2 Sub Sections

Activity: Putting It All Together1 Sub Section

Bibliography

Related Courses:

Comments

Guest

Introduction
1 Sub Section

Scapular Joint Actions and Exercises
1 Sub Section

Serratus Anterior
2 Sub Sections

Pectoralis Minor
2 Sub Sections

Trapezius
5 Sub Sections

Rhomboids
2 Sub Sections

Activity: Putting It All Together
1 Sub Section