Supraspinatus Muscle, Superior View

Description

Emerging from the supraspinous fossa of the scapula, the supraspinatus muscle tapers laterally as it courses deep to the acromion toward the greater tubercle of the humerus. A superior perspective emphasizes how the muscle belly sits posterior to the clavicle and superior to the spine of the scapula, with its tendon passing anterolaterally to blend with the superior glenohumeral joint capsule. The supraspinatus lies medial to the humeral head at its origin and becomes increasingly lateral and anterior as it approaches the subacromial space. Tight confines. That relationship to the acromion and coracoacromial arch is the teaching point. Subacromial impingement and rotator cuff tendinopathy commonly localize to the supraspinatus tendon near its insertion, and this angle helps explain why repetitive overhead activity can abrade the tendon against the undersurface of the acromion and narrow the subacromial-subdeltoid bursa. Surgeons also use these landmarks when planning arthroscopic cuff repair, where tendon quality, footprint on the greater tubercle, and the interval between supraspinatus and subscapularis (rotator interval) guide suture anchor placement. Use this illustration in gross anatomy and musculoskeletal medicine modules when you need to orient learners to the rotator cuff from a superior shoulder view and to link surface landmarks to deep structures before ultrasound or MRI correlation. It also supports orthopedic and sports medicine publications discussing supraspinatus tears, painful arc syndrome, and postoperative anatomy after cuff repair. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.