Name the muscles that retract the scapula.

• A. Rhomboids
• B. Rhomboids and middle trapezius
• C. Serratus anterior
• D. Latissimus dorsi

Answer: (B)

Retracting the scapula means pulling the shoulder blade toward the spine. The muscles that do this most effectively are the rhomboids (major and minor) and the middle fibers of the trapezius. The rhomboids originate along the spinous processes of the neck and upper back and insert on the medial border of the scapula, so their contraction pulls the scapula medially and upward toward the spine, stabilizing the scapulothoracic joint. The middle trapezius also pulls the scapula toward the vertebral column, helping to retract it.

Serratus anterior, in contrast, protracts the scapula—pulling it forward around the rib cage. Latissimus dorsi mainly acts on the humerus (extending, adducting, and medially rotating the arm) and, when the arm is fixed, can contribute to depression of the scapula rather than retraction. So the combination of rhomboids and middle trapezius best accounts for scapular retraction.