Yoga Glossary · Muscles
Serratus anterior
The finger-like muscle along the side ribs that anchors the shoulder blades to the torso.
The serratus anterior runs from the upper ribs, around the side of the ribcage, to the inner edge of each shoulder blade. Its finger-like slips give it a saw-tooth look — serratus means saw-shaped. Its main jobs are protracting the shoulder blade (reaching it forward around the ribs) and rotating it upward so the arm can lift overhead.
Teachers watch this muscle closely in Chaturanga and Plank: when the serratus is not doing its job, the shoulder blades lift off the back like little wings. A strong serratus keeps the blades glued wide and flat, which is what makes arm balances and vinyasa transitions feel stable instead of crunchy in the shoulders.
In practice
- Think 'push the floor away and spread the shoulder blades apart' — that is serratus anterior switching on.
- Winging shoulder blades in Plank are the classic sign it is asleep.
- It works as a team with the trapezius to rotate the blade so the arm can reach overhead without pinching.
Poses that engage it
- Arms Overhead (Upward Salute)
- Runner's Lunge
- Upward Facing Dog
- Plank Pose
- Chaturanga
- Side Plank
- Crow Pose
- Downward Facing Dog
- Child's Pose
Related terms
Test yourself
Pose IQ's Anatomy rounds quiz this term and its neighbours — ten questions, explanations after every answer.
The Yoga Glossary is an educational study reference. Definitions are standard yoga and anatomy knowledge in plain language; nothing here is medical advice.