What is the origin of the supraspinatus?

Prepare for the Trail Guide to Body Test. Dive into quizzes with detailed hints and explanations. Ace your exam!

Multiple Choice

What is the origin of the supraspinatus?

Explanation:
Supraspinatus originates from the supraspinous fossa of the scapula. This fits its position and path: the muscle sits in that fossa, with its tendon running under the acromion to insert on the greater tubercle of the humerus, enabling the first phase of arm abduction and helping stabilize the shoulder joint. The other fossa names belong to different rotator cuff muscles—infraspinatus from the infraspinous fossa and subscapularis from the subscapular fossa—while the suprascapular notch is a passage for the suprascapular nerve, not an origin for a muscle.

Supraspinatus originates from the supraspinous fossa of the scapula. This fits its position and path: the muscle sits in that fossa, with its tendon running under the acromion to insert on the greater tubercle of the humerus, enabling the first phase of arm abduction and helping stabilize the shoulder joint. The other fossa names belong to different rotator cuff muscles—infraspinatus from the infraspinous fossa and subscapularis from the subscapular fossa—while the suprascapular notch is a passage for the suprascapular nerve, not an origin for a muscle.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy