Right serratus anterior

Looks like

A saw-edged muscle on the side of the chest, running from the upper 8–9 ribs to the inner edge of the shoulder blade.

What it does

Holds the shoulder blade flat against the ribs and swings it forward and up for reaching and punching.

Keeping it well

Powered by the long thoracic nerve; damage causes a 'winged' shoulder blade. Push-up plus exercises strengthen it.

Related conditions

• Botulism
• Fibromyalgia
• Frailty & falls in older age
• Heat exhaustion & heatstroke
• Malnutrition & refeeding syndrome
• Muscular dystrophy
• Pleural effusion
• Pneumothorax
• Polymyalgia rheumatica
• Rhabdomyolysis
• Sarcoma
• Sarcopenia
• Tetanus