The teres major and teres minor are two relatively small muscles located near the back of the shoulder. Despite their similar names and close proximity, they perform different jobs and should be trained with different types of movement.<\/p>\n
The teres major assists the latissimus dorsi during pulling movements and contributes to shoulder extension, adduction and internal rotation. The teres minor is one of the four rotator-cuff muscles. Its main functions are externally rotating the upper arm and helping stabilise the shoulder joint.<\/p>\n
You cannot completely isolate either muscle because they work alongside the lats, rear deltoids, infraspinatus and other upper-back muscles. However, the right combination of rows, pulldowns, pullovers and external-rotation exercises can strengthen the area effectively.<\/p>\n