Which two muscles share the action of retracting, rotating, and fixing the scapula to the body wall?

Which two muscles share the action of retracting, rotating, and fixing the scapula to the body wall?

• A. Rhomboid Major & Rhomboid Minor
• B. Trapezius & Latissimus Dorsi
• C. Serratus Anterior & Pectoralis Minor
• D. Levator Scapulae & Subclavius

Answer: (A)

Retraction of the scapula with downward rotation and firm fixation to the thoracic wall is accomplished by the rhomboid pair. The rhomboid major and rhomboid minor originate along the spine and insert on the medial border of the scapula. When they contract, they pull the scapula medially toward the spine (retraction) and rotate it downward, which helps stabilize the glenoid fossa. At the same time, their pull tightens the medial edge of the scapula against the thoracic wall, keeping the scapula fixed in place during arm movements. This combination of drawing the scapula in, rotating it downward, and anchoring it to the body wall is exactly what those two muscles do. Other muscles either protract the scapula (pushing it forward), elevate it, depress it, or move the scapula in different ways, so they don’t provide the same shared action of retracting, downwardly rotating, and fixing the scapula to the body wall.

Retraction of the scapula with downward rotation and firm fixation to the thoracic wall is accomplished by the rhomboid pair. The rhomboid major and rhomboid minor originate along the spine and insert on the medial border of the scapula. When they contract, they pull the scapula medially toward the spine (retraction) and rotate it downward, which helps stabilize the glenoid fossa. At the same time, their pull tightens the medial edge of the scapula against the thoracic wall, keeping the scapula fixed in place during arm movements. This combination of drawing the scapula in, rotating it downward, and anchoring it to the body wall is exactly what those two muscles do.

Other muscles either protract the scapula (pushing it forward), elevate it, depress it, or move the scapula in different ways, so they don’t provide the same shared action of retracting, downwardly rotating, and fixing the scapula to the body wall.