The levator scapulae is a skeletal muscle situated at the back and side of the neck. As the name suggests, its main function is to lift the scapula (shoulder blade).…

Shoulder internal rotation (or medial rotation) is a rotary movement at the shoulder (glenohumeral) joint around the longitudinal axis of the humerus (upper arm bone) towards the centre of the…

Shoulder external rotation (or lateral rotation) is a rotary movement at the shoulder (glenohumeral) joint around the longitudinal axis of the humerus (upper arm bone) away from the centre of…

Shoulder transverse abduction is a lateral movement at the shoulder (glenohumeral) joint in a horizontal plane – moving the upper arm away from the chest with the elbow facing down…

Scapular downward rotation (or scapular superior rotation) is a rotary movement of the scapula – moving the inferior (lower) angle of the shoulder blade (scapula) medially and downwards – see…

Scapular upward rotation (or scapular superior rotation) is a rotary movement of the scapula – moving the inferior (lower) angle of the shoulder blade (scapula) laterally and upwards – see…

Shoulder transverse adduction is a medial movement at the shoulder (glenohumeral) joint in a horizontal plane – moving the upper arm towards and across the chest with the back of…

Scapular elevation is a superior (upwards) movement of the shoulder girdle – moving the shoulder blade (scapula) up – see Figure 1. The key muscles involved in this movement are…

Scapular depression is an inferior (downwards) movement of the shoulder girdle – moving the shoulder blade (scapula) down, away from your ear – see Figure 1. The key muscles involved…

Scapular retraction (or scapular adduction) is a backwards movement of the scapula towards the midline of the body – moving the shoulder blade (scapula) back towards the spine during retraction…