Anat Cell Biol.  2012 Sep;45(3):211-213. 10.5115/acb.2012.45.3.211.

Variant insertion of the teres major muscle

• Iamsaard S
• Thunyaharn N
• Chaisiwamongkol K
• Boonruangsri P
• Uabundit N
• Hipkaeo W

• KMID: 2046750
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5115/acb.2012.45.3.211

Abstract

The teres major (TerMa) muscle has a clinical significance for tendon transfer procedures in patients with massive rotator cuff tears. Individually, it originates from the dorsum of the inferior angle of scapula and inserts into the medial lip of bicepital groove of the humerus. Functionally, TerMa in cooperation with latissimus dorsi (LD) adducts arm, medially rotates arm, and assists in arm extension. The variation of TerMa insertion is very rare. In the shoulder and axillary regions of a 33-year-old Thai male cadaver, the variant insertion of the right TerMa was found. The muscle fibers of TerMa are directly attached at the supero-medial border of LD tendon. Notably, there was no terminal tendon of TerMa. To explain an unusual movement of the arm, this rare variation of the TerMa insertion is necessary to be recognized. This case report is very important for surgeons to preoperatively consider using the terminal tendon of TerMa for tendon transfer in treating patients with irreparable cuff tears.

Keyword

Teres major muscle; Latissimus dorsi; Variant insertion; Rotator cuff tears; Tendon transfer

MeSH Terms

Adult
Arm
Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Cadaver
Humans
Humerus
Lip
Male
Muscles
Rotator Cuff
Scapula
Shoulder
Tendon Transfer
Tendons

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Photograph (A) and schematic drawing (B) (anterior axillary approach) showing the gross anatomy of the variant insertion of the teres major (A). Axil.a., axillary artery; BiB, biceps barchii; Br.Plex., brachial plexus; Cir.Sc.a., circumflex scapular artery; LD, latissimus dorsi; LDt, latissimus dorsi tendon; PecMa, pectoralis major; SS, subscapularis muscle; Sub.Sc.a., subscapular artery; TerMa, teres major; Tho.Do.a., thoracodorsal artery; Tho.Do.n., thoracodorsal nerve; black arrows, the connection area between TerMa muscle fibers and the LD tendon. Note: No terminal tendon of TerMa was observed.

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