Rotator cuff

<B>Rotator cuff:</B> A group of four tendons that stabilize the shoulder joint.

Each of the four tendons hooks up to a muscle that moves the shoulder in a specific direction.

The four muscles whose tendons form the rotator cuff are: > >The subscapularis muscle, which moves the arm by turning it inward (internal rotation); >The supraspinatus muscle, which is responsible for elevating the arm and moving it away from the body; >The infraspinatus muscle, which assists the lifting of the arm during turning the arm outward (external rotation); >The teres minor muscle, which (like the infraspinatus) helps in the outward turning (external rotation) of the arm.</LI></UL> Damage to the rotator cuff is one of the most common causes of shoulder pain.