The rhomboid minor is the smaller, more superior rhomboid, inserting at the root of the scapular spine. Together with the rhomboid major it retracts the scapula and acts as an antagonist to the serratus anterior. The rhomboid minor is frequently involved in the medial scapular pain of office-worker postural syndrome alongside the rhomboid major.
| Origin | Ligamentum nuchae and spinous processes of C7-T1 |
|---|---|
| Insertion | Medial border of the scapula at the root of the spine (the triangular area at the base of the scapular spine) |
| Nerve Supply | Dorsal scapular nerve (C4, C5) |
| Blood Supply | Dorsal scapular artery |
| Actions | Retracts the scapula; Elevates the medial border of the scapula |
|---|
The rhomboid minor insertion at the root of the scapular spine is a common site of myofascial trigger point development in sustained forward posture. It is almost invariably treated together with the rhomboid major as a functional unit in physiotherapy and dry needling protocols.
Palpable at the superior medial scapular angle at the root of the spine, smaller and less prominent than the rhomboid major.
Rhomboid minor trigger points producing upper medial scapular pain managed with dry needling and thoracic extension exercises.
