Which nerve innervates the infraspinatus muscle?

Prepare for the Medbridge Orthopedic Clinical Specialist Test. Test your knowledge with multiple choice questions, each featuring hints and explanations. Ace your exam with ease!

Multiple Choice

Which nerve innervates the infraspinatus muscle?

Explanation:
The infraspinatus is innervated by the suprascapular nerve, which comes from the upper trunk of the brachial plexus (C5–C6). After branching, the nerve travels through the suprascapular notch to reach the supraspinatus and then continues around the spine of the scapula to the infraspinatus, giving motor input to it. This nerve supplies the rotator cuff muscle responsible for external rotation of the arm. The other nerves listed innervate different muscles (axillary to deltoid and teres minor, upper subscapular to subscapularis, and long thoracic to serratus anterior), so they do not innervate the infraspinatus.

The infraspinatus is innervated by the suprascapular nerve, which comes from the upper trunk of the brachial plexus (C5–C6). After branching, the nerve travels through the suprascapular notch to reach the supraspinatus and then continues around the spine of the scapula to the infraspinatus, giving motor input to it. This nerve supplies the rotator cuff muscle responsible for external rotation of the arm. The other nerves listed innervate different muscles (axillary to deltoid and teres minor, upper subscapular to subscapularis, and long thoracic to serratus anterior), so they do not innervate the infraspinatus.

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