Knowledge Builders

what is the role of the serratus anterior

by Pete Cummings Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
image

When the shoulder girdle is fixed, all three parts of the serratus anterior muscle work together to lift the ribs, assisting with respiration. The serratus anterior, also known as the “boxer's muscle,” is largely responsible for the protraction of the scapula, a movement that occurs when throwing a punch.Oct 7, 2021

Full Answer

What does the serratus anterior protract?

The serratus anterior muscle protracts the shoulder blades. This means that they pull them forward around your rib cage. Think of a boxer throwing a punch; as his arm comes forward, the serratus anterior contracts to pull the shoulder blade around the ribs and forward.

What is the function of the inferior and superior serratus?

The inferior and superior aspect of the serratus also helps to stabilize your shoulder blade against your rib cage. When they contract together, they work with the rhomboid muscles to pull your scapula tight against the back of your ribs.

How does the serratus anterior move the scapula?

The contraction of the entire serratus anterior leads to a ventrolateral movement of the scapula along the ribs. Due to the pull of the inferior part at the lower scapula, the shoulder joint is shifted superiorly. This shifting now enables to lift the arm above 90° (elevation).

What is the innervation for the serratus anterior?

Serratus anterior muscle seen in a human cadaver. Notice how the muscle fibers follow the course of the ribs onto which they attach. The innervation is supplied by the long thoracic nerve  (C5-7), a branch of the brachial plexus. The innervation for the serratus anterior is very easy to remember if you just know the right mnemonics!

image

Why is the serratus anterior important?

The serratus anterior (SA) is a muscle that plays an important role in the dynamic movement and control of the scapula during pushing movements and overhead elevation.

What muscles do serratus anterior work?

The serratus anterior is a muscle that originates on the surface of the 1st to 8th ribs at the side of the chest and inserts along the entire anterior length of the medial border of the scapula. The serratus anterior acts to pull the scapula forward around the thorax.

What does the serratus anterior stabilize?

The main actions are protraction and upward rotation of the scapulothoracic joint. It's also a key scapular stabilizer, keeping the shoulder blades against the ribcage when at rest and during movement.

What movements use the serratus anterior?

The functions of the serratus anterior are plentiful, but the main purpose of the muscle is the movement of the scapula, including rotation, flexion, and protraction, as well as the stabilization of the shoulder muscles.

What happens when serratus anterior is weak?

Serratus anterior weakness leads to the most pronounced winging, which is accentuated with forward flexion of the arms and decreased with the arms at rest. The superior (medial) angle of the scapula is displaced closer to the midline, whereas the inferior angle swings laterally and away from the thorax.

Is serratus anterior push or pull?

If you are a handbalancer working on pulling, hanging is all about proper form and getting the shoulder blades and humerus in the proper position. Your shoulder blade needs to rotate upward a full 60 degrees. Your serratus anterior is already super strong from all of your pushing.

Do pull ups work the serratus anterior?

Pull-ups help increase your upper body strength and work upper body muscles such as your upper back and biceps. But pull-ups don't work your serratus anterior. To target your serratus anterior, you need to do exercises that upwardly rotate your scapula or protract or move it away from your spine in a forward motion.

What muscle keeps the scapula from winging?

Winging may disappear during forward flexion of the arm due to the action of the serratus anterior muscle [5].

Do push-ups work the serratus anterior?

Barre exercises like push-ups, plank, rhomboid pulls, arm dancing, and oblique punches are all effective moves for your serratus anterior and you'll meet them often in class.

How do you increase serratus anterior strength?

1:242:16Serratus Anterior Strengthening - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou can challenge your Stratis in a more dynamic fashion by using a foam roller or simply slidingMoreYou can challenge your Stratis in a more dynamic fashion by using a foam roller or simply sliding your forearms up the wall while maintaining that external rotation force in the shoulder.

Why is it called Boxer's muscle?

Serratus anterior is often referred to as “the boxer's muscle” because it is largely responsible for protraction of the scapula– the forward movement of the shoulder blade that takes place, like when someone throws a punch.

How do you target serratus anterior?

8:3111:458 BEST Exercises for Serratus Anterior (Shoulder and Scapular Strength)YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipStart in a tall plank with feet hips and shoulders in a straight line pull your shoulder bladesMoreStart in a tall plank with feet hips and shoulders in a straight line pull your shoulder blades together under control.

What muscles are weak in scapular winging?

Again, lateral scapular winging is due to damage to the trapezius or rhomboid muscles. The scapula will move laterally due to unopposed muscle strength attributed to the trapezium or rhomboid paralysis or weakness.

Do pull ups work the serratus anterior?

Pull-ups help increase your upper body strength and work upper body muscles such as your upper back and biceps. But pull-ups don't work your serratus anterior. To target your serratus anterior, you need to do exercises that upwardly rotate your scapula or protract or move it away from your spine in a forward motion.

What is the action of the serratus anterior muscle quizlet?

What is the action of the serratus anterior muscle? Abducts scapula from the spinal column.

What is the function of the serratus anterior?

Another function of the serratus anterior is the active stabilization of the scapula within the shoulder. Finally, in a fixed scapula the muscle lifts the ribs and acts as an accessory inspiratory muscle.

Where does the vascular supply to the serratus anterior come from?

The vascular supply to the serratus anterior comes from the superior and lateral thoracic arteries (branches of the axillary artery ) as well as branches from the thoracodorsal artery (branch of subscapular artery ).

What is the movement of the scapula along the ribs?

The contraction of the entire serratus anterior leads to a anterolateral movement of the scapula along the ribs. Due to the pull of the inferior part at the lower scapula, the shoulder joint is shifted superiorly. This shifting now enables to lift the arm above 90° ( elevation ).

What muscle is seen in a human cadaver?

Serratus anterior muscle seen in a human cadaver. Notice how the muscle fibers follow the course of the ribs onto which they attach.

How long does it take to read a Serratus anterior?

Reading time: 4 minutes. Serratus anterior muscle (Musculus serratus anterior) The serratus anterior muscle is a fan-shaped muscle at the lateral wall of the thorax. Its main part lies deep under the scapula and the pectoral muscles. It is easy to palpate between the pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi muscles.

What causes the serratus anterior to be damaged?

Common causes are operations in the axilla (e.g. lymph node removal), a compression due to carrying heavy loads (e.g. backpack) and trauma.

What is the inferior part of the scapula?

Inferior part: 4th to 8/9th rib → medial border and inferior angle of the scapula. (The lowest attachment may alternatively extend to the 10th rib in approximately 10% of the population, as well as blend with the external abdominal oblique muscle.)

Where is the serratus anterior muscle located?

The serratus anterior muscle is a fan-shaped muscle at the lateral wall of the thorax. Its main part lies deep under the scapula and the pectoral muscles. It is easy to palpate between the pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi muscles.

How to feel the serratus anterior muscle?

The serratus anterior muscle is very thin and covers the side of the ribcage. You can feel it by putting your hand just below the arm pit. It also helps to experience how your ribs feel, so that you can distinguish the ribs and this thin and superficial muscle. To do so, just feel the first ribs under your nipple.

What is the action of the scapula?

The main actions are protraction and upward rotation of the scapulothoracic joint, moving the scapula forward across the thoracic wall. It also keeps the medial boarder and inferior angle of the scapula close to the thoracic wall.

What is the third test for serratus anterior muscle weakness?

In the third test the patient is in a seated or supine position, with his arm flexed 90-100 degrees and his elbow fully extended. The therapist resists the maximally protracting force by the patient. In case of serratus anterior muscle weakness the patient’s scapula is pushed into a retracted and internally rotated position leading to scapular winging appearance.

What is the weakness of the serratus anterior?

Weakness of the serratus anterior leads to altered line of pull of the rotator cuff muscle which could increase the risk of subacromial impingement syndrome.

Why does my scapula wing?

The most common cause of scapular winging is injury to the long thoracic nerve, leading to serratus anterior palsy. The long thoracic nerve descends across the lateral thoracic wall, making it susceptible to injury during anterolateral thorax surgeries . Other causes of isolated serratus anteiro palsy are traumas, strenrous work, athletics, anesthesia, infection and idiopathic causes. Neuropraxia of the long thoracic nerve could result from compression or stretch injuries.

What is the function of the scapular protraction?

Scapular protraction function of serratus anterior occurs simultaneously when reaching forward or pushing objects away from the body, increasing the functional length of the arm. Also in push-up plus exercise, the reverse protraction action of both serratus anterior results in lifting the trunk and ribs upwards.

WHAT IS THE SERRATUS ANTERIOR?

The serratus anterior (aka the Big Swing Muscle or Boxer’s Muscle) is a large fan-shaped muscle that is located on each of your sides right on top of your ribs. The muscle wraps around the outside of your rib cage and attaches to the sides of your shoulder blades.

Where is the superior part of the serratus anterior?

Superior: The superior part of your serratus anterior originates at the first and second ribs and inserts on the side of your shoulder blade near the top. Middle: The middle part of your serratus anterior starts at your third, fourth, and fifth ribs and inserts on the side of your shoulder blade near the bottom.

HOW DO YOU TELL IF YOU HAVE WEAK SERRATUS ANTERIOR?

Some easy ways to tell if your serratus anterior is weak are shakiness or weakness during pressing motions like overhead presses and clicking or clunkiness in your shoulders as your reach in front and overhead.

HOW DO YOU STRENGTHEN THE SERRATUS ANTERIOR MUSCLE?

If you don’t have any scapular winging when doing the test above, or when performing exercises like pushing or punching, OR you just generally feel like your serratus anterior is up to par, you don’t necessarily need to specifically focus on your serratus anterior. Most compound movements that you are probably already doing do a good enough job of strengthening the serratus anterior.

WHAT OTHER EXERCISES WORK THE SERRATUS ANTERIOR?

These exercises will be effective enough for strengthening most people’s serratus anterior that they won’t need to do isolation exercises.

What part of the shoulder is used to move the arms forward?

All three parts of the serratus anterior work to pull the shoulder blades forward around the thorax (scapular protraction). This allows the arm to reach forward. The serratus anterior also assists in upward rotation of the scapula, enabling you to elevate your arms and move them overhead.

What is a serratus jabs?

Serratus Jabs (aka Banded Rotational Pressouts) This is a great exercise for the serratus anterior because the pressing motion involves the greatest possible range of motion. It is essentially like a resisted punch (the punching motion is shown to best activate the serratus anterior muscle).

image

Introduction

Image
The serratus anterior originates via eight muscular "slips" that attach to the side of your ribs. It then courses around the side of your rib cage and underneath your scapula. There, it inserts along the medial border of your scapula. This muscle lies between the back of your rib cage and your shoulder blade near the subscapulari…
See more on verywellhealth.com

Origin

Insertion

Nerve and Blood Supply

Image
The serratus anterior (SA) is a fan-shaped muscle that originates on the superolateral surfaces of the first to eighth or ninth ribs at the lateral wall of the thorax and inserts along the superior angle, medial border, and inferior angle of the scapula. Its main part lies deep under the scapula and the pectoral muscles. 1…
See more on physio-pedia.com

Function

  • It originates on the top lateral surface of the eight or nine upper ribs. It then wraps posteromedially around the ribcage, passing beneath the scapula to insert on the underside of the scapula on its medial border. As the muscle extends from the ribs, it is divided by tendinous septa into nine finger-like groupings of muscle fibers called “digitations.” 1. The fibers run obliquely (t…
See more on physio-pedia.com

Clinical Relevance

  • It inserts on the front border of the scapula.The muscle is divided into three parts : 1. Upper / Superior : 1st to 2nd rib → superior angle of scapula. 2. Middle / Intermedius : 2nd to 3rd rib → medial border of scapula. 3. Lower / Inferior : 4th to 9th rib → medial border and inferior angle of scapula. It is the most powerful and prominent part. Image 3: Insertional area of SA on scapula.
See more on physio-pedia.com

Assessment

  1. The long thoracic nerve, which arises from C5 to C7 nerve roots of the brachial plexus.
  2. Lateral thoracic artery, the superior thoracic artery and the thoracodorsal artery.
See more on physio-pedia.com

Exercises For Activating Serratus Anterior

  • The main actions are protraction and upward rotation of the scapulothoracic joint. It’s also a key scapular stabilizer, keeping the shoulder blades against the ribcage when at rest and during movement. It also acts with the upper and lower fibers of the trapezius muscle to sustain upward rotation of the scapula, which allows for overhead arm movement. See Dynamic Stabilisers of th…
See more on physio-pedia.com

1.Serratus Anterior Muscle: Anatomy, Function, and …

Url:https://www.verywellhealth.com/serratus-anterior-muscle-anatomy-4684084

14 hours ago  · The serratus anterior is occasionally called the “big swing muscle” or “boxer’s muscle” because it is largely responsible for the protraction of the scapula — that is, the pulling of the scapula forward and around the rib cage that occurs when someone throws a punch.

2.Videos of What Is The Role Of The Serratus Anterior

Url:/videos/search?q=what+is+the+role+of+the+serratus+anterior&qpvt=what+is+the+role+of+the+serratus+anterior&FORM=VDRE

33 hours ago What muscles do serratus anterior work? It’s also a key scapular stabilizer, keeping the shoulder blades against the ribcage when at rest and during movement. It also acts with the upper and lower fibers of the trapezius muscle to sustain upward rotation of the scapula, which allows for overhead arm movement.

3.What is the role of the serratus anterior? - Guillaume Boivin

Url:https://guillaumeboivin.com/what-is-the-role-of-the-serratus-anterior.html

20 hours ago  · The function of the serratus anterior muscle is to allow the forward rotation of the arm and to pull the scapula forward and around the rib cage. The scapula is able to move laterally due to the serratus anterior muscle, which is vital for the elevation of the arm.

4.Serratus Anterior Muscle Origin, Function & Anatomy

Url:https://www.healthline.com/human-body-maps/serratus-anterior-muscle

8 hours ago  · Let’s add in that it has the largest linear surface attachment point of any muscle connecting to the scapula, which is the foundational bone and attachment surface area for the entire shoulder complex and arm appendage. Basically, this muscle is one of, if not the main muscle connecting arm to body. Fun Fact: A look at shoulder pain EMG findings show that the …

5.Serratus Anterior - Physiopedia

Url:https://www.physio-pedia.com/Serratus_Anterior

34 hours ago  · Given its anatomical location, origin and insertion, and extensive documentation, we know that the serratus anterior muscle is critical in healthy shoulder function. Specifically, it helps stabilize and move your arm forward and overhead when reaching. It also helps with upward rotation and protraction of the shoulder blade.

6.5 Best Serratus Anterior Exercises for Strength & Aesthetics

Url:https://www.setforset.com/blogs/news/serratus-anterior-exercises

28 hours ago

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9