Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Muscles of the Shoulder

Muscles of the Shoulder

The muscles surrounding the shoulder girdle, including the clavicle and scapula, primarily stabilize the scapula. This stable base allows other muscles to move the humerus effectively. Scapular movements often mirror those of the humerus and extend its range of motion. For instance, raising the arm above the head would not be feasible without simultaneous upward rotation of the scapula.
Anterior Thoracic Muscles
The anterior thoracic muscles include the serratus anterior, subclavius, and...

Muscles that Move the Arm

Muscles that Move the Arm

Nine muscles are involved in arm movements. Two of these, the pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi, originate from the axial skeleton and are called axial muscles. The other seven originate from the scapula and are called the scapular muscles.
The pectoralis major has two origins. Its clavicular head originates on the medial half of the clavicle. In contrast, the sternocostal head originates on the costal cartilages of ribs 1-6, the sternum, and the aponeurosis of the external oblique of the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Long-term (minimum 10 years) survival and outcomes of pyrocarbon interposition shoulder arthroplasty.

Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery·2026

Same author

The AO Spine Upper Cervical Injury Score (UCIS): Development of a Consensus-Based Scoring System Based on Perceived Injury Severity Scores.

Global spine journal·2026

Same author

Moderate to high levels of spin in studies comparing open and arthroscopic Latarjet procedures for anterior shoulder instability: A systematic review from the LaTour Group.

Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA·2026

Same author

Potential knowledge gaps in the classification and management of subaxial cervical spine fractures: A critical review.

Journal of clinical orthopaedics and trauma·2026

Same author

Knowledge gaps in high-energy sacral fracture treatment and management.

Journal of clinical orthopaedics and trauma·2026

Same author

The Modified Spinal Instability Spondylodiscitis Score (mSISS): Adaptation and Validation of a Novel Classification System for Spinal Instability in Spondylodiscitis.

Global spine journal·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 21, 2025

Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

Published on: July 5, 2011

Subscapularis in Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty.

Sebastian F Bigdon¹, Lilianna Bolliger¹, Christoph E Albers¹

¹Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.

Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Arthroplasty

|September 9, 2021

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) is gaining popularity, but the subscapularis muscle's function after surgery remains unclear. This review suggests the subscapularis plays a crucial role in RSA outcomes.

Keywords:

impaired range of motion reverse total shoulder arthroplasty review stability subscapularis

More Related Videos

Anterior Capsular Reconstruction with Human Dermal Allograft for Irreparable Subscapularis Tears

Anterior Capsular Reconstruction with Human Dermal Allograft for Irreparable Subscapularis Tears

Published on: May 9, 2025

The Modified Single-working Portal Technique Using Lasso-loop Stitch with Needle for Arthroscopic Subscapularis Repair

The Modified Single-working Portal Technique Using Lasso-loop Stitch with Needle for Arthroscopic Subscapularis Repair

Published on: August 8, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 21, 2025

Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

Published on: July 5, 2011

Anterior Capsular Reconstruction with Human Dermal Allograft for Irreparable Subscapularis Tears

Anterior Capsular Reconstruction with Human Dermal Allograft for Irreparable Subscapularis Tears

Published on: May 9, 2025

The Modified Single-working Portal Technique Using Lasso-loop Stitch with Needle for Arthroscopic Subscapularis Repair

The Modified Single-working Portal Technique Using Lasso-loop Stitch with Needle for Arthroscopic Subscapularis Repair

Published on: August 8, 2025

Area of Science:

Orthopedic Surgery
Biomechanics
Musculoskeletal Research

Background:

Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) is increasingly utilized for complex shoulder conditions.
The biomechanical role of the subscapularis muscle after RSA is not fully understood.
Existing literature presents conflicting evidence regarding subscapularis function in RSA.

Purpose of the Study:

To review and synthesize current literature on the subscapularis muscle's role following RSA.
To clarify the impact of the subscapularis on shoulder stability and range of motion post-RSA.
To highlight the potential significance of the subscapularis in RSA outcomes.

Main Methods:

Systematic literature review of clinical and biomechanical studies.
Analysis of research investigating subscapularis function in reverse total shoulder arthroplasty.
Synthesis of findings related to range of motion and joint stability.

Main Results:

Evidence suggests the subscapularis contributes positively to shoulder stability after RSA.
Some studies indicate that subscapularis preservation or function may limit range of motion.
The subscapularis appears to have a more significant role in RSA than initially presumed.

Conclusions:

The subscapularis muscle is a critical component in the functional success of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty.
Further research is warranted to optimize the management of the subscapularis in RSA patients.
Understanding subscapularis function is key to improving patient outcomes after RSA.