Supraspinatus
Musculus supraspinatus
Extends the shoulder and steadies it cranially, acting as a lateral stabilising ligament.
About the supraspinatus of the dog
Supraspinatus is a muscle of the front leg (thoracic limb), on the left side. Its name in the Nomina Anatomica Veterinaria is Musculus supraspinatus. Cranial to spine of scapula, deep to omotransversarius and trapezius. You can turn it above, see it in place in the front leg of the dog, and open it inside the whole animal in Vetomica.
Where it runs from and to
A muscle is told apart from its neighbours by what it takes hold of at each end, which is also what decides what it does when it shortens.
- Origin
- Scapula: fills the supraspinous fossa, arising from its floor and the adjacent spine.
- Insertion
- Humerus, on the greater tubercle.
- Action
- Extends the shoulder and steadies it cranially, acting as a lateral stabilising ligament.
- Nerve
- Suprascapular nerve.
Written for Vetomica in its own words from the standard reference anatomy of the dog; the books it was checked against are listed below.
What it works on
Cranial to spine of scapula, deep to omotransversarius and trapezius.
Bones it takes hold of
Muscles and ligaments it works with
Terminology
- English
- Supraspinatus
- Latin (NAV)
- Musculus supraspinatus
- Status
- A valid term in the Nomina Anatomica Veterinaria
References
Where to read this structure in full, and where the named parts above were read.
- NAV 2017Myologia: musculi membri thoracici
- Miller's Anatomy of the Dog, 5th ed.The Muscular System: muscles of the thoracic limb
- König & LiebichMuscles of the thoracic limb
- Dyce, Sack & WensingThe forelimb of the carnivores
The supraspinatus in other animals
The same structure in the other animals in the Library, to compare.
Questions about the supraspinatus
- What is the Latin name of the supraspinatus?
- In the Nomina Anatomica Veterinaria, the supraspinatus is called Musculus supraspinatus.
- Where is the supraspinatus of the dog?
- Supraspinatus is a muscle of the front leg (thoracic limb), on the left side.
- Which bones does the supraspinatus attach to?
- Supraspinatus takes hold of Scapula and Humerus.
- Where does the supraspinatus originate and insert?
- Origin: Scapula: fills the supraspinous fossa, arising from its floor and the adjacent spine. Insertion: Humerus, on the greater tubercle.
- What nerve supplies the supraspinatus?
- Suprascapular nerve.
- What does the supraspinatus do?
- Extends the shoulder and steadies it cranially, acting as a lateral stabilising ligament.
See the supraspinatus inside the whole dog.
Vetomica opens on this structure with every layer of the dog around it: peel back the skin and the muscles, cut a section through it, X-ray it, and practise naming it until you stop getting it wrong.
Free for 7 days, no card. After that the skeletons stay free.
