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Shoulder & Arm Muscles
The rotator cuff and the large movers of the shoulder (deltoid, pectoralis major heads, teres major), plus the front and back compartments of the arm — biceps, brachialis and coracobrachialis in front, triceps behind.
This page lists all 18 of them in the reference. Open any muscle for its origin, insertion, actions, nerve supply and clinical pearl.
| Muscle | Main actions | Nerve supply |
|---|---|---|
| Anconeus | Assists elbow extension; Steadies the ulna during forearm rotation | Radial nerve (C7–C8) |
| Biceps Brachii | Bends the elbow (flexion); Turns the forearm palm-up (supination) | Musculocutaneous nerve (C5–C6) |
| Brachialis | Bends the elbow (pure flexor, in any forearm position) | Musculocutaneous nerve (C5–C6), with a small radial contribution |
| Brachioradialis | Bends the elbow, fastest with the forearm in mid-position; Returns the forearm to mid-position from full rotation | Radial nerve (C5–C7) |
| Coracobrachialis | Flexes the arm; Adducts the arm | Musculocutaneous nerve (C5–C7) |
| Coracobrachialis and Biceps (Coracoid Group) | Flex the arm at the shoulder | Musculocutaneous nerve (C5–C7) |
| Deltoid | Lifts the arm away from the body (abduction); Front fibres flex the arm | Axillary nerve (C5–C6) |
| Deltoid (Posterior Part) | Extends the arm backward; Rotates the arm outward | Axillary nerve (C5–C6) |
| Infraspinatus | Rotates the arm outward (lateral rotation); Stabilises the shoulder joint | Suprascapular nerve (C5–C6) |
| Pectoralis Major (Clavicular Head) | Flexes the arm forward; Adducts and inwardly rotates the arm | Lateral pectoral nerve (C5–C7) |
| Rotator Cuff (Group) | Holds the humeral head centred in the socket; Fine rotation of the arm | Suprascapular, axillary and subscapular nerves (C5–C7) |
| Scapular Stabilisers (Group) | Position and rotate the shoulder blade for every arm movement | Accessory, dorsal scapular, long thoracic and pectoral nerves |
| Subscapularis | Rotates the arm inward (medial rotation); Stabilises the shoulder joint | Upper and lower subscapular nerves (C5–C7) |
| Supraspinatus | Starts arm abduction (first ~15 degrees); Stabilises the head of the humerus in the socket | Suprascapular nerve (C5–C6) |
| Teres Major | Extends the arm; Adducts the arm | Lower subscapular nerve (C6–C7) |
| Teres Minor | Rotates the arm outward (lateral rotation); Stabilises the shoulder joint | Axillary nerve (C5–C6) |
| Triceps Brachii | Straightens the elbow (extension); Long head also extends and adducts the arm | Radial nerve (C6–C8) |
| Triceps Brachii (Long Head) | Straightens the elbow; Extends and adducts the arm at the shoulder | Radial nerve (C6–C8) |
Please note: This page is an anatomy education summary for students and curious readers, not medical advice. Attachment points are given in their classic short form; individual anatomy varies, and detailed dissection-level descriptions belong in an anatomy atlas.