The rhomboids
Rhomboid major and minor · musculi rhomboidei
Two muscles between your spine and shoulder blades that squeeze the shoulder blades together.
What it does
The rhomboids run diagonally from the spine to the inner edge of each shoulder blade, under the trapezius. They pull the shoulder blades towards each other and tuck them in, the movement you make when you sit up tall and pull your shoulders back.
Surprising fact
The rhomboids get their name from their rhombus, or slanted diamond, shape.
Why it matters
That nagging ache between the shoulder blades after a long day at a screen often comes from these muscles being held stretched for hours.
Nearby
Read more
Sources
Drafted with AI help; awaiting a human fact-check against these sources.
Open in the 3D atlas · Suggest a correction · Not medical advice.
3D models: Z-Anatomy & BodyParts3D (CC BY-SA 4.0 / 2.1 JP). Card text CC BY 4.0.