Teres Minor Muscle Anatomy
& Exercises 101: The Rotator Cuff

Get ready to learn about the teres minor muscle anatomy. Discover its various functions and which back exercises train it.

This rotator cuff muscle is attached from the scapula (shoulder blade) onto the top of the upper arm bone, right above the teres major.

The rotator cuff is a small, delicate structure that contains four individual muscles. These muscles may also be considered back muscles, as they are found on the backside of the body, albeit in a specific region. Together, they allow your upper arms to move and rotate in an possible direction...

...The specific rotator muscle that is the topic of this guide performs the action of outwardly rotating the shoulder/upper arm.

The glossary of terms at the end of the page contains the definitions of all anatomical terminology within this guide.

Use the table of contents (TOC) to instantly navigate to any listed section.

Teres Minor Muscle Anatomy

Teres Minor

• Origin
  • Upper-Middle Area of the Posterior Surface of the Lateral Border of the Lateral Scapula
• Insertion
  • Inferior Facet of the Posterior Side of the Greater Tubercle of the Humerus
• Function
  • External Shoulder Rotation
  • Transverse Shoulder Abduction
  • Transverse Shoulder Extension
  • Posterior Shoulder Stability

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Teres Minor Muscle Exercises

Exercises. Below is a list of the exercises that most directly workout this rotator cuff muscle.

• Cable External Shoulder Rotations (Seated or Standing)
• Dumbbell External Shoulder Rotations (Seated, Lying, or Standing)
• Machine External Shoulder Rotations

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The Other Rotator Cuff Muscles

Muscles that perform similar functions include the following:

• Infraspinatus
• Subscapularis
• Supraspinatus

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Glossary

Functions

• External Shoulder Rotation. Turning the upper arm toward the outside.
• Posterior Shoulder Stability. Maintaining the secureness and balance of the rear shoulder.
• Transverse Shoulder Abduction. Moving the upper arm outward and away from the chest, on a horizontal plane; typically done in a bent over position like the bent over lat raise exercise.
• Transverse Shoulder Extension. Pulling the upper arm backward, away from the chest and with the elbows out and pointed to the rear.

Anatomy

• Greater Tubercle. The large bony protrusion on the lateral (outer) side of upper humerus; specifically, it is on the outside of the head of the humerus.
• Humerus . Upper arm bone.
• Inferior. Below, or lower; located closer to the feet, away from the head.
• Inferior Facet. The greater tubercle contains three flat impressions, to which a different muscle is attached. The lowest impression is the inferior facet, which attaches to the teres minor.
• Lateral. On, or extending toward, the outside.
• Posterior. Rear, or back.
• Rotator Cuff. A complex shoulder structure comprised of muscles and tendons, which enables omnidirectional rotary movement (movement in all directions) via the ball-and-socket shoulder joint.
• Scapula. Shoulder blade.

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