supraspinatus (muscle)

su·pra·spi·na·tus (mus·cle)

[TA]

intrinsic (scapulohumeral) muscle of shoulder joint, the tendon of which contributes to the rotator cuff; origin, supraspinous fossa of scapula; insertion, greater tuberosity of humerus; action, initiates abduction of arm; its tonic contraction helps to hold the head of the humerus in the shallow glenoid fossa; nerve supply, suprascapular from fifth and sixth cervical.

Synonym(s): musculus supraspinatus [TA], supraspinous muscle