Which muscle elevates and adducts the scapula?

The muscle that elevates and adducts the scapula is the levator scapulae. This muscle is situated at the back and side of the neck and plays a crucial role in moving the scapula. It attaches to the cervical vertebrae and the upper part of the scapula, enabling it to lift (elevate) the scapula towards the ears and draw it inward (adduct) towards the spine.

The levator scapulae functions primarily to assist in shrugging the shoulders and moving the scapula upward, which is essential during various arm movements and in maintaining proper posture. Its contraction not only raises the scapula but also contributes to its retraction, making it a core muscle for upper body mobility and stabilization.

While the rhomboids also contribute to the adduction and retraction of the scapula, their primary function is to pull the scapula towards the midline, with less emphasis on elevation compared to the levator scapulae. The pectoralis major and deltoid muscles are not involved in scapular elevation and adduction; instead, they primarily facilitate arm movements—pectoralis major in flexion and adduction of the arm, and deltoid in arm abduction. Thus,