Talk:Rhomboid major muscle

Anatomy: Gross Mid‑importance

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Rhomboid major muscle is not "diamond-shaped"

A rhombus is a parallelogram (which has parallel and equal opposite sides) with 4 equal sides; a rhomboid is a parallelogram with unequal adjacent sides (i.e., not a rhombus) and oblique angles (i.e., not a rectangle).

Most equate being diamond-shaped with being a rhombus, in which case the article is in a sense saying that the word rhomboid suggests a rhombus, which is like saying the word humanoid suggests a human. In a sense it does suggest, or bring to mind, a human, but with the connotation (if not definition) that, while like a human, it is also not a human. Similarly for rhomboid, and I think all -oids. Even if you don't equate being diamond-shaped with being a rhombus (some regard some kites as being diamond-shaped as well), a rhomboid should/would not be considered diamond-shaped because it lacks the equal adjacent sides (by definition) and bilateral symmetry necessary for the latter. For a less "definitive" approach, if you just look at the diagram of the Rhomboideus muscles, there is no way to make them into a diamond-shape, the oblique unattached borders of the muscles being markedly longer than their respectively adjacent attached vertical borders. I propose the following explanation for its name (perhaps it can be simplified):

"The Rhomboideus muscles (major and minor) are named for their geometrical shape. In geometry, a rhomboid is a parallelogram (with opposite sides parallel and equal in length) that has unequal adjacent sides forming oblique, non-rectangular angles. The Rhomboideus muscles each have two vertical borders attached to the spinal column and medial border of the scapula respectively (with the spinal attachment superior to the scapular) that are equal in length to each other and shorter than the two unattached borders, the latter also parallel and equal in length to each other, and angled obliquely downward laterally."Jauntymcd 14:42, 20 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Other Animals

The "Other Animals" section in the article leaves so much to be desired, if it can't be completely rewritten it should be deleted. There are three topographic groups of shoulder muscles, OK, and the trapezius evolved "separately", well, okay, though you really could tell us more about that (from what if not the same ribs?); but the fact is you're not really telling us anything about other animals. The mention of "primitive animals" is ridiculous. What animals are you even talking about? Other primates? Dogs, cats, horses? Who says all these other animals are primitive? They're highly evolved also, just in different directions from us. Or maybe you mean one-celled animals? And then you don't really tell us anything about those other animals. I can understand that the way the upper back muscles work in humans is different from animals who don't stand upright, and that would be interesting, but you haven't actually given us any information about that. 71.93.172.99 (talk) 15:14, 6 July 2017 (UTC)[reply]