Rotator Cuff Muscles (SITS Muscles)
- Forgotten muscle
- Subscapularis → Deep muscle.
- Localization of pathology → Difficult.


Function
- Stability to the shoulder joint.
Muscles and Location



- Posterior
- Supraspinatus
- Infraspinatus
- Teres minor
- Anterior
- Subscapularis
Greater Trochanter | ㅤ | ㅤ |
ㅤ | Supraspinatus | Initial abduction (0-15 degrees) |
ㅤ | Infraspinatus | Adduction + External rotation |
ㅤ | Teres minor | Adduction + External rotation |
Lesser Trochanter | ㅤ | ㅤ |
ㅤ | Subscapularis (Forgotten tendon) | Adduction and IR (MLM + Subscapularis) |
Shoulder



Subscapularis




- Insertion: Lesser tubercle
- Adduction and IR
Lady between 2 majors
- Intertubercular groove



- Pec major → Adduction and IR + Flexion
- Latissimus Dorsi → Adduction and IR + Extension
- Climbing muscle
- Teres major → Adduction and IR
- Mneumonic:
- Lady between 2 majors → LML → Addupichitt Internally (Add + IR) rotate cheyyan nokkum
SIT Muscles
- Greater tubercle has three prominences
- provide Insertion to ‘SIT’ muscles
- Initial abduction (0-15 degrees)
- Supraspinatus
- External rotation
- Infraspinatus
- Teres minor
- Function
- Adduction?? and External Rotation
- When sitting (SIT muscle except Supraspinatus) in Lap → Addupich (Add) Externally (ER) rotate cheyyanam
SAM Nerves | Muscles Innervated | Action |
Suprascapular nerve (C5, C6) | Supraspinatus | Shoulder abduction (0–15°) |
ㅤ | Infraspinatus | External rotation of shoulder |
Axillary nerve (C5, C6) | Teres minor | External rotation of shoulder |
ㅤ | Deltoid | Shoulder abduction (15–90°) |
Musculocutaneous nerve (C5, C6, C7) | Biceps | Elbow flexion, forearm supination |
ㅤ | Brachialis | Elbow flexion |
ㅤ | Coracobrachialis (C7) | Adduction Mneumonic: Kora Kora sound → While adducting Axilla |




Adduction and IR
- MLM +
- Subscapularis
- ”Mneumonic: Sabu (Subscapularis) nte Wife 2 major (MLM) nte kude kidannu (Add+ IR)
Abduction of the Shoulder Joint

- 0–15°: Supraspinatus
- 15–90°: Middle fibers of deltoid
- 90–180°:
- Trapezius, serratus anterior
- Sar (Serratus anterior) trapped (Trapezius) us and said Hands up (overhead abduction)


Dorsal scapular nerve Injury
- Mneumonic: Door to School (Dorsal scapular) → makes u Levate (Levator Sc) and Rotate (R. major, minor) Up {imagine} → look down and see Globe going down (Glenoid fossa downwards)
- 3 muscles supplied
- Rhomboid major
- Rhomboid minor
- Retraction of scapula
- Levator scapulae
Injury
- Winging of scapula
- worsen with slow lowering of arm
- Rotation of glenoid fossa downwards

Trapezius Muscle – Middle and Lower Fibers
- Location: Upper back and neck
- Shape:
- Alone: Triangular
- Together: Rhomboid
- Function:
- Scapular retraction
- Pulls the scapula backward toward the spine
- Overhead Abduction (90-180 degree)
- Primary role:
- Movement and stabilization of the scapula
Humeral Fractures and nerve injury


Fracture Location | Nerve Affected | Notes |
Surgical neck of humerus | Axillary nerve | Passes behind the surgical neck. |
Shaft of humerus | Radial nerve | Runs through spiral/radial groove. |
Supracondylar fracture | Anterior interosseous nerve > median nerve | ㅤ |
Medial epicondyle of humerus | Ulnar nerve | Located behind the medial epicondyle. |
Cubitus valgus | Tardy Ulnar nerve palsy | Lateral epicondylar fracture |
Shoulder Dislocation | Axillary nerve | Paralyzed deltoid Loss of sensation over deltoid skin |
Winging of scapula


Feature | Spinal Accessory Nerve (CN XI) | Long Thoracic Nerve | Dorsal Scapular Nerve |
Muscle Innervated | Trapezius, Sternocleidomastoid | Serratus anterior | Rhomboids, Levator scapulae |
Mechanism of Injury | Surgery in posterior triangle of neck | Sports injury, mastectomy | Rare; trauma or stretch injury |
Main Deficit | Dropped shoulder, weak abduction, weak shrugging of shoulder | Winging scapula, can't lift arm above head | Winging scapula, esp. on slow lowering |
Winging Increases When | Arm abducted at shoulder level | Wall push-up, head tilt | Slow lowering of raised arm |
Clavipectoral fascia


- Mnemonic:
- CLAvi Pectoral
- Cephalic vein
- Lateral pectoral N
- Acromial artery (Thoracoacromial artery)
- ClaVi (CV → Cephalic Vein), Pectoral (Lateral pectoral), fAscia (Acromial)
- All less
- Subclavius
- Pec minor
Structures piercing clavipectoral fascia :
- Cephalic vein.
- Thoracoacromial trunk.
- Lateral pectoral nerve.
- Lymphatics.
Extensions :
- Superior : Continues with investing layer (Posterior layer) of deep cervical fascia.
- Inferior : Suspensory ligament of axilla
NOTE
- Medial pectoral nerve
- Laterally located
- Pierces pectoralis minor
- Lateral pectoral nerve
- Medially located
- Runs anterior to pectoralis minor



Cubital Fossa → MBTR structures





Carrying Angle and Cubitus Valgus

Biceps Tendon Rupture
Proximal
- Usually long head rupture.

- Sudden pop with pain.
- Popeye deformity in arm.
- Loss of supination strength.
- Often due to degeneration or overuse.
- Treatment:
- Conservative
- Surgical repair for young or high-demand patients.

Distal
- Tear of biceps insertion on radial tuberosity.
- Sudden pain + Loss of supination and flexion strength
- Reverse Popeye appearance
- Caused by forceful extension of flexed elbow.
- Hook test: tendon not palpable.
- Treatment:
- Surgical repair preferred
- proximal pop eye (aduth ullavare onnu nokkikonda mathi) ( conservative in elderly)
- distant aayi ponavare hook vach pidich thunni vaykkam (repair must)
Arteries of Upper Limb
Subclavian Artery




- Divided into 3 parts by scalenus anterior muscle
1st Part | VIT C D |
ㅤ | Vertebral artery |
ㅤ | Internal thoracic artery |
ㅤ | Thyrocervical trunk ↳ Suprascapular artery ↳ Inferior thyroid artery ↳ Transverse cervical artery |
2nd Part | ㅤ |
ㅤ | Costocervical trunk |
3rd Part | ㅤ |
ㅤ | Dorsal scapular artery |
Inferior Thyroid Artery supplies
- Thyroid
- Parathyroid
- Cervical part of oesophagus
- Thymus
Axillary Artery



- Axillary vein lies medial to the artery throughout.
- Anterior shoulder dislocation may compress the 2nd part of axillary artery by the humeral head.
Scapular Anastomosis
- Between 1st part of subclavian artery and 3rd part of axillary artery.

Arteries of the Arm (Branches of Brachial Artery)
- Profunda brachii artery
- Runs in spiral groove with radial nerve
- Gives radial collateral arteries
- Superior ulnar collateral artery
- Inferior ulnar collateral artery
- Ulnar artery and Radial artery
- Muscular branches
Applied: Volkmann's ischemic contracture
- In supracondylar fracture of humerus → Brachial artery laceration
- Ischemic contracture of forearm flexors

- AIN (branch of Median N) > Median N
- AIN → FPL, FDP → Flexors
- Median → Flexor + sensation in hand
- Mneumonic: A Man (Volkman) Condomitt (condylar) → AlreadyIN (AIN) middle (Median) of Bra (Brachial)
- Supply forearm and palmar arches
Subscapular Artery
- Supplies:
- Subscapular muscle
- Latissimus dorsi
Arteries of Forearm and Palm
- Ulnar artery → Common interosseous artery
- Common interosseous artery divides into:
- Anterior interosseous artery
- Pierces interosseous membrane
- Enters 4th compartment of extensor retinaculum
- Posterior interosseous artery
- Gives Recurrent interosseous artery
Allen’s Test (Radial–Ulnar Patency)
- Allen’s Test:
- 2 hands → 1 artery
- Negative: Normal.
- Modified Allen’s:
- 2 hands → 2 artery
- Positive: Normal (radial & ulnar patent).

