The teres major muscle: An anatomic study of its use as a tendon transfer

Eleven fresh-frozen cadaver shoulders were dissected to define the anatomy of the teres major muscle and tendon and to determine the muscle's potentia l for use as a tendon transfer to the humeral head. OF the 11 specimens, 7 had Mathes type II circulation. The primary and secondary pedicles, from th e circumflex scapular artery, entered the muscle 4.1 cm and 0.5 cm from the scapula, respectively. The lower subscapular nerve entered 4.1 cm from the scapula. Mean tendon and muscle lengths were 2.0 and 11.8 cm, respectively As a unipolar transfer, the tendon reached the greater tuberosity in all b ut 7 specimen. The bipolar transfer offered numerous theoretical possibilit ies. We believe that the teres major has an appropriate vascular supply and adequate length to make it suitable for tendon transfer to the humeral hea d.