Teres major origin and insertion

Teres major runs from the scapula to the humerus.

What are the origin and insertion of teres major?

Teres major arises from the back of the inferior angle of the scapula. It inserts on the crest of the lesser tubercle, the medial lip of the intertubercular groove. Its main action is shoulder adduction. It is supplied by the lower subscapular nerve (C5, C6). The attachments, actions and nerve follow Gray (1918).

Paint it on 3D bones: Muscle Origin, Insertion and Action Explorer →

Every attachment and its bone

Origin 1

Origin of teres major, with the bone each is on
Attachment	Bone
Back of the inferior angle of the scapula	Scapula

Insertion 1

Insertion of teres major, with the bone each is on
Attachment	Bone
Crest of the lesser tubercle, the medial lip of the intertubercular groove	Humerus

Actions

The actions of teres major, and which are its main ones
Action	What moves	Main or assisting
Shoulder adduction	The arm comes down to the side	Main action
Medial rotation	With the elbow bent, the forearm swings in	Assists
Shoulder extension	The arm swings back	Assists

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

Innervation

The lower subscapular nerve (C5, C6).

Lifts that use teres major

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.

Prime mover in 1

Lifts in which teres major is a prime mover, with what it does there
Lift	What it does there
Lat pulldown	Shoulder adduction

Synergist in 3

Lifts in which teres major is a synergist, with what it does there
Lift	What it does there
Bent-over barbell row	Shoulder extension
Pull-up	Shoulder adduction and extension
Chin-up	Shoulder extension

It is also a stabilizer in the cable triceps pushdown.

Sources

Gray (1918), Myology, the muscles and fasciae of the shoulder

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.