The rotator cuff consists of which four muscles?

• A. Scalenes, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis
• B. Supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres major, subscapularis
• C. Supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, soleus
• D. Supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis

Answer: (D)

The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles that encircle the shoulder joint to stabilize the head of the humerus within the shallow glenoid socket. These four muscles are supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis. They work as a team to keep the ball centered while the arm moves: supraspinatus helps start lifting the arm, infraspinatus and teres minor control external rotation, and subscapularis performs internal rotation. Other listed muscles aren’t part of the cuff—scalene muscles are in the neck, soleus is a calf muscle, and teres major is a different muscle that isn’t part of the cuff.