Supraspinatus is a muscle located in the shoulder, part of the rotator cuff group; it plays a crucial role in initiating the abduction of the arm and stabilizing the shoulder joint. This muscle works in concert with the deltoid muscle to lift the arm and maintains joint alignment during movement. Its position above the spine of the scapula allows it to leverage the arm in a wide range of activities.
The name "Supraspinatus" is derived from Latin, where "supra" means above and "spina" refers to the spine of the scapula, indicating its location above the scapular spine.
Without the Supraspinatus, the arm would struggle to initiate lifting from the body, significantly impairing the range and effectiveness of up-and-over motions, and the shoulder joint would be less stable, increasing the risk of injury.
