Subscapularis
The subscapularis is a rotator cuff muscle that runs from the front surface of the scapula to the upper arm bone. It sits between the shoulder blade and the rib cage, so you can’t see it from the back.
Location
The broad muscle covers the front surface of the scapula. Its tendon crosses the front of the shoulder joint and attaches to the upper arm bone.
Place in the rotator cuff
Four muscles and their tendons form the rotator cuff. The subscapularis helps turn the upper arm inward and supports the head of the upper arm bone as the shoulder moves.
Limits of a location-based explanation
Shoulder movement depends on the other rotator cuff muscles, the deltoid, and muscles that guide the scapula. Pain in one area doesn’t prove that the subscapularis is injured. Pressing a tender spot can’t diagnose a tear or another shoulder condition.
Use in hands-on care
The name may appear when an esthetic session includes the front of the shoulder or the area near the armpit. The provider should explain the contact area and adjust pressure. Esthetic care doesn’t repair a rotator cuff injury or treat shoulder impingement.
Difficulty lifting the arm, sudden weakness, or pain after an injury needs medical assessment.
Related terms
- Scapula: The shoulder blade where the muscle begins.
- Levator scapulae: A muscle linking the neck and upper scapula.
- Rhomboids: Muscles linking the spine and inner scapula.
