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Book

Anatomy, Rotator Cuff

Smita Maruvada, Antonio Madrazo-Ibarra  1 , Matthew A. Varacallo  2
In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026 Jan.
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Book

Anatomy, Rotator Cuff

Smita Maruvada et al.
Free Books & Documents

Excerpt

The rotator cuff is a group of muscles in the shoulder that allow a wide range of movement while maintaining the stability of the glenohumeral joint (see Image. Rotator Cuff Muscles). The rotator cuff includes the following muscles:

  1. Subscapularis

  2. Infraspinatus

  3. Teres minor

  4. Supraspinatus (see Image. Rotator Cuff Muscles Anatomy)

A helpful mnemonic to remember these muscles is "SITS". The glenohumeral joint is a ball-and-socket joint and comprises a large spherical humeral head and a small glenoid cavity. This anatomy makes the joint highly mobile; however, it is also really unstable. Stabilization in the shoulder is provided collectively by the non-contractile tissue of the glenohumeral joint (static stabilizers), such as the capsule, the labrum, the negative intraarticular pressure, and the glenohumeral ligaments, and the contractile tissues (dynamic stabilizers), such as the rotator cuff muscles and the long head of the biceps brachii. See Image. Muscles and Fascia of the Shoulder.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: Smita Maruvada declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Antonio Madrazo-Ibarra declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Matthew Varacallo declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

References

    1. Varacallo MA, El Bitar Y, Sina RE, Mair SD. StatPearls [Internet] StatPearls Publishing; Treasure Island (FL): 2024. Mar 5, Rotator Cuff Syndrome.
    1. Varacallo MA, El Bitar Y, Mair SD. StatPearls [Internet] StatPearls Publishing; Treasure Island (FL): 2023. Aug 4, Rotator Cuff Tendonitis.
    1. Cowan PT, Mudreac A, Varacallo MA. StatPearls [Internet] StatPearls Publishing; Treasure Island (FL): 2023. Aug 8, Anatomy, Back, Scapula.
    1. Vosloo M, Keough N, De Beer MA. The clinical anatomy of the insertion of the rotator cuff tendons. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol. 2017 Apr;27(3):359-366. - PubMed
    1. Hippensteel KJ, Brophy R, Smith MV, Wright RW. A Comprehensive Review of Physical Examination Tests of the Cervical Spine, Scapula, and Rotator Cuff. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2019 Jun 01;27(11):385-394. - PubMed

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