Infraspinatus Tendon

Fig. 6.37a-d. Supraspinatus-infraspinatus tendon junction, a Schematic drawing of a lateral view through the rotator cuff with b... 

Fig. 6.84a,b. Complete (full-thickness, full-width) tear of the supraspinatus tendon, a Transverse 12-5 MHz US image over the cranial aspect of fhe humeral head (HH) wifh b T2-weighted MR imaging correlation demonstrates a wide defect (arrows) of cuff tissue from immediately posterior to the intra-articular portion of the biceps tendon (bt) to the superior boundary of the infraspinatus tendon (IS), reflecting a complete retracted tear of the supraspinatus tendon... 

While tears of the infraspinatus tendon are almost invariably associated with rupture of the supraspinatus, subscapularis ruptures can also be encountered as an isolated problem. Subscapularis tendon tears are mainly related to acute traumatic lesions produced with the arm abducted and in external rotation. Similar to other rotator cuff tendons, complete tears of the subscapularis are revealed by the absence of tendon fibers and the concavity of the deltoid over the naked anterior surface of the humeral head. Incomplete tears of the subscapularis tendon often involve the cranial and preserve the caudal portion of the tendon (Fig. 6.90). This pattern should not be mistaken for complete tears. For this purpose, the morphology of the lesser tuberosity as seen on sagittal planes may help to establish the caudal limit of the tendon and avoid any confusion... 

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