serratus posterior superior

9.6

A thin muscle in the upper back that lifts the top ribs

noun
/ˈsɛrətəs pəˈstɪər suˈpɪər/

Specialized

: serrato posterior superior

The serratus posterior superior assists in the process of inhalation by lifting the upper ribs.

Examples

Injuries to the serratus posterior superior can cause pain in the upper back and limit breathing movements.
The serratus posterior superior helps raise the upper ribs during deep breathing exercises.
Anatomy textbooks provide detailed diagrams of the serratus posterior superior for medical students.
The serratus posterior superior muscle helps in elevating the upper ribs.
She felt pain in her serratus posterior superior after the workout.
Anatomy classes often highlight the role of the serratus posterior superior in respiratory mechanics.
Damage to the serratus posterior superior can lead to discomfort when lifting objects overhead.

Surface Forms

serratus posterior superior singular

serratus posterior superiors plural

Morphology

serratus + posterior + superior

Given knowledge of the constituents, the phrase is directly compositional: 'serratus' denotes a saw-toothed muscle and 'posterior' + 'superior' specify its rear and upper location, so the name transparently describes an upper-back muscle. This follows standard anatomical naming conventions (common across languages), so a learner who knows the parts can infer the referent and location without prior exposure.

Etymology

Serratus posterior superior comes from Latin words that give a simple picture: serratus means 'saw' because the muscle has small, tooth-like parts, posterior means 'back', and superior means 'upper'. So, the name describes a saw-like muscle at the upper back that helps lift the upper ribs.