Shoulder joint
| Shoulder joint | |
|---|---|
 The right shoulder and shoulder joint | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | articulatio humeri |
| MeSH | D012785 |
| TA98 | A03.5.08.001 |
| TA2 | 1764 |
| FMA | 25912 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
The shoulder joint (or glenohumeral joint from Greek glene, eyeball, + -oid, 'form of', + Latin humerus, shoulder) is structurally classified as a synovial ball-and-socket joint and functionally as a diarthrosis and multiaxial joint. It involves an articulation between the glenoid fossa of the scapula (shoulder blade) and the head of the humerus (upper arm bone). Due to the very loose joint capsule that gives a limited interface of the humerus and scapula, it is the most mobile joint of the human body.
Structure
The shoulder joint is a ball-and-socket joint between the scapula and the humerus. The socket of the glenoid fossa of the scapula is itself quite shallow, but it is made deeper by the addition of the glenoid labrum. The glenoid labrum is a ring of cartilaginous fibre attached to the circumference of the cavity. This ring is continuous with the tendon of the biceps brachii above.
Spaces
Significant joint spaces are:
- The normal glenohumeral space is 4–5 mm.[1]
- The normal subacromial space in shoulder radiographs is 9–10 mm; this space is significantly greater in men, with a slight reduction with age.[2] In middle age, a subacromial space less than 6 mm is pathological, and may indicate a rupture of the tendon of the supraspinatus muscle.[2]
The axillary space is an anatomic space between the associated muscles of the shoulder. This space transmits the subscapular artery and the axillary nerve.
Capsule
The shoulder joint has a very loose joint capsule, which can sometimes predispose the shoulder to dislocate.[citation needed]
The "U shaped" dependent portion of the axillary part of the capsule located between the anterior and posterior bands of inferior glenohumeral ligament is called "axillary pouch".[3]
Synovium extends below the long head of biceps and subscapularis tendon to form subscapular bursa. Therefore, long head of biceps is extrasynovial and intracapsular, attaching to supraglenoid tubercle.[4]
Bursae
A number of small fluid-filled sacs known as synovial bursae are located around the capsule to aid mobility:
- Between the joint capsule and the deltoid muscle is the subacromial-subdeltoid bursa.
- Between the capsule and the acromion is the subacromial bursa.
- The subcoracoid bursa is between the capsule and the coracoid process of the scapula.
- The coracobrachial bursa is between the subscapularis muscle and the tendon of the coracobrachialis muscle.
- Between the capsule and the tendon of the subscapularis muscle is the subscapular bursa, this is also known as the subtendinous bursa of the scapularis.
The supra-acromial bursa does not normally communicate with the shoulder joint.
Muscles
The shoulder joint is a muscle-dependent joint as it lacks strong ligaments. The primary stabilizers of the shoulder include the biceps brachii on the anterior side of the arm, and tendons of the rotator cuff; which are fused to all sides of the capsule except the inferior margin.[5]
The tendon of the long head of the biceps brachii passes through the
The tendons of the rotator cuff and their respective muscles (
Ligaments
- Superior, middle and inferior infraspinatus muscle.[4]
- Coracohumeral ligament[4]
- Transverse humeral ligament[4]
- Coraco-acromial ligament[6]
Innervation
The nerves supplying the shoulder joint all arise in the brachial plexus. They are the suprascapular nerve, the axillary nerve and the lateral pectoral nerve.
Blood supply
The shoulder joint is supplied with blood by branches of the
Function
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The rotator cuff muscles of the shoulder produce a high tensile force, and help to pull the head of the humerus into the glenoid cavity.
The glenoid cavity is shallow and contains the glenoid labrum which deepens it and aids stability. With 120 degrees of unassisted flexion, the shoulder joint is the most mobile joint in the body.
The movement of the scapula across the
Movements
- Flexion and extension of the shoulder joint in the (sagittal plane).
- Flexion is carried out by the anterior fibres of the deltoid, pectoralis major and the coracobrachialis.
- Extension is carried out by the latissimus dorsiand posterior fibres of the deltoid.
- Abduction and adduction of the shoulder (frontal plane).
- Abduction is carried out by the deltoid and the supraspinatus in the first 90 degrees. From 90-180 degrees it is the trapezius and the serratus anterior.
- Adduction is carried out by the pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi, teres major and the subscapularis.
- Abduction is carried out by the deltoid and the supraspinatus in the first 90 degrees. From 90-180 degrees it is the trapezius and the
- Horizontal abduction and horizontal adduction of the shoulder (transverse plane)
- Medial and lateral rotation of the shoulder (also known as internal and external rotation).
- Medial rotation is carried out by the anterior fibres of the deltoid, teres major, subscapularis, pectoralis major and the latissimus dorsi.
- Lateral rotation is carried out by the posterior fibres of the deltoid, infraspinatus and the teres minor.
- Circumduction of the shoulder (a combination of flexion/extension and abduction/adduction).
Clinical significance
The capsule can become inflamed and stiff, with abnormal bands of tissue (
A SLAP tear (superior labrum anterior to posterior) is a rupture in the glenoid labrum. SLAP tears are characterized by shoulder pain in specific positions, pain associated with overhead activities such as tennis or overhand throwing sports, and weakness of the shoulder. This type of injury often requires surgical repair.[7]
Anterior dislocation of the glenohumeral joint occurs when the humeral head is displaced in the anterior direction. Anterior shoulder dislocation often is a result of a blow to the shoulder while the arm is in an abducted position. In younger people, these dislocation events are most commonly associated with fractures on the humerus and/or glenoid and can lead to recurrent instability. In older people, recurrent instability is rare but people often suffer rotator cuff tears.[8] It is not uncommon for the arteries and nerves (axillary nerve) in the axillary region to be damaged as a result of a shoulder dislocation; which if left untreated can result in weakness, muscle atrophy, or paralysis.[9]
Subacromial bursitis is a painful condition caused by inflammation which often presents a set of symptoms known as subacromial impingement.
MRI with surface coils is used to image the shoulder joint.[4]
Additional images
-
Diagram of the human shoulder joint, front view -
Diagram of the human shoulder joint, back view -
The left shoulder and acromioclavicular joints, and the proper ligaments of the scapula -
Dissection image of the coracohumeral ligament of the glenohumeral joint in green -
Dissection image of the cartilage of the glenohumeral joint in green
See also
References
- PMID 6846006.
- ^ PMID 6702430.
- PMID 30498801.
- ^ ISBN 9780702029714.
- ^ a b Saladin KS (2012). Anatomy & Physiology: The Unity of Form and Function (Sixth ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
- ^ Moore K, Dalley A, Agur A (2014). Moore Clinically Oriented Anatomy (7th ed.). Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
- ^ "Shoulder Pain: Raising the level of diagnostic certainty about SLAP lesions". Clinical Updates for Medical Professionals. Mayo Clinic. 5 September 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
- PMID 21655003.
- ^ Saladin K (2015). Anatomy & Physiology: The Unity of Form and Function (Seventh ed.). McGraw-Hill Education. p. 296.
External links
- Shoulder Joint Movements
- Overview at brown.edu
- Overview at ouhsc.edu
- Anatomy figure: 10:03-12 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center
- Diagram at yess.uk.com
