The rhomboid minor inserts along the medial scapular border at the level of the scapular spine, immediately superior to the rhomboid major insertion. It is a small, narrow muscle and its tendinous fibres are concentrated in the superior medial border zone at the base of the spine. The rhomboid minor lies deep to the trapezius and directly adjacent to the deeper serratus anterior.
| Muscle | |
|---|---|
| Attachment | Medial border of the scapula at the root of the scapular spine |
Retracts and elevates the scapula
The rhomboid minor, though small, is an important postural muscle contributing to scapular retraction and elevation of the medial scapular border. Its insertion at the smooth triangular area at the root of the scapular spine lies just below the levator scapulae attachment at the superior angle, so pain at these neighbouring sites must be distinguished. Its trigger points refer pain medially over the scapular spine. The dorsal scapular nerve supplying the rhomboids emerges from C5 and can be entrapped by the middle scalene, producing interscapular pain with rhomboid weakness, sometimes misdiagnosed as cervical radiculopathy or thoracic outlet syndrome.
Compression of the dorsal scapular nerve at the middle scalene muscle produces rhomboid minor and major weakness with winging of the medial scapular border (distinct from lateral winging from serratus palsy) and deep interscapular aching, treated with scalene release or targeted nerve decompression.
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