infraspinata

Infraspinata is not a widely recognized term in standard biological or anatomical nomenclature. In many cases the word may appear as a misspelling or variant of infraspinatus, the commonly described muscle of the rotator cuff, or it may be encountered as a provisional or obscure taxonomic name in niche literature. Because it is not consistently defined across sources, its precise meaning can vary by context. If you encounter infraspinata in a text, checking the surrounding description or the authors’ references is important to determine whether the term is intended to refer to a specific structure, a misnomer for another term, or a fictional or provisional name.

For context, the infraspinatus muscle is a well-established anatomical structure. It originates from the infraspinous fossa of the scapula and inserts on the greater tubercle of the humerus. It is one of the four rotator cuff muscles, alongside the supraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis. The infraspinatus functions primarily to externally rotate the shoulder and helps stabilize the glenohumeral joint. It receives innervation from the suprascapular nerve and is supplied by branches of the suprascapular and surrounding arteries.

Etymologically, the prefix infra- means below, and spin- refers to the spine or a spine-like ridge, which in anatomy often points to structures located below a defined spine or ridge, such as the infraspinous fossa. When encountering infraspinata, consult reliable anatomical or taxonomic references to confirm its intended meaning. See also infraspinatus and infraspinous fossa.