Serratus anterior origin and insertion

Serratus anterior runs from the first to eighth ribs to the scapula.

What are the origin and insertion of serratus anterior?

Serratus anterior arises from the first to eighth ribs. It inserts on the front of the scapula’s medial border. Its main actions are protraction of the scapula and upward rotation of the scapula. It is supplied by the long thoracic nerve (C5, C6, C7). The attachments, actions and nerve follow Gray (1918).

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Every attachment and its bone

Origins 8

Origins of serratus anterior, with the bone each is on
Attachment	Bone
First rib	First rib
Second rib	Second rib
Third rib	Third rib
Fourth rib	Fourth rib
Fifth rib	Fifth rib
Sixth rib	Sixth rib
Seventh rib	Seventh rib
Eighth rib	Eighth rib

Insertion 1

Insertion of serratus anterior, with the bone each is on
Attachment	Bone
Front of the scapula’s medial border	Scapula

Actions

The actions of serratus anterior, and which are its main ones
Action	What moves	Main or assisting
Protraction	The shoulder blade slides forward round the chest	Main action
Upward rotation	The shoulder blade turns so the socket faces up	Main action

Each action is stated in the anatomical position: standing, arms by the sides, palms forward.

Innervation

The long thoracic nerve (C5, C6, C7).

Lifts that use serratus anterior

A prime mover produces the lift’s main joint action against the load; a synergist assists that action, or adds a secondary action the lift needs. Each role is the one the lift’s own page gives, for the technique that page states.

Synergist in 3

Lifts in which serratus anterior is a synergist, with what it does there
Lift	What it does there
Push-up	Pushing the shoulder blades forward at the top
Standing overhead press	Rotating the shoulder blades upward
Dumbbell lateral raise	Rotating the shoulder blade upward

It is also a stabilizer in the flat bench press, incline bench press and front plank.

Sources

Gray (1918), Myology, the muscles connecting the upper extremity to the anterior and lateral thoracic walls

Each lift role is from that lift’s page in muscles worked by exercise, which names the sources it follows.

See it in 3D

Visualiser · Biology Muscle Origin, Insertion and Action Explorer Paint a muscle’s origin and insertion on real 3D bones, or click a bone to see what attaches to it. Visualiser · Biology Upper Limb Muscles Explorer 114 upper limb muscle meshes, by compartment. Visualiser · Biology Muscles Worked by Exercise 3D Explorer Choose a lift and a real body lights its prime movers, synergists and stabilisers, front and back, with the same muscles in 3D.