
Serratus Anterior
The serratus anterior is a muscle of the chest. It originates at the side of the chest from the upper 8 or 9 ribs; it inserts along the entire length of the anterior aspect of the medial border of the scapula. It is innervated by the long thoracic nerve from the brachial plexus. The serratus anterior acts to pull the scapula forward around the thorax.The serratus anterior wraps around the ribcage and stabilizes the scapula by holding it against the back of the ribcage. When performing exercises in the horizontal plane like chest presses or push-ups, the serratus anterior main job is to protract/retract the shoulder blades. When your arm and shoulder are in a fixed and stable position, the serratus anterior helps to elevate your ribs. This occurs during normal breathing. Thus, the serratus anterior muscles are considered secondary muscles of respiration.
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