Rhomboid minor

Definition

The rhomboid minor is a small skeletal muscle located in the upper back, between the spine and the scapula. It functions to retract and elevate the scapula, playing a crucial role in the movement of the shoulder.

Related terms

Scapula:

A flat, triangular bone located on the posterior side of the rib cage that serves as an important attachment site for several muscles including the rhomboid minor.

Retraction:

The movement of pulling something back or backward, which in terms of shoulder movement refers to pulling the shoulders back, primarily performed by muscles like the rhomboid minor.

Elevation:

The act of moving something upwards; in anatomy, it refers to raising a body part, such as lifting the shoulders up through muscles including the rhomboid minor