Glenohumeral ligaments

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Glenohumeral ligaments
Gray326.png
Ligaments of glenohumeral joint (Glenohumeral ligaments labelled Capsular ligament at centre)
Details
From Glenoid cavity
To Humerus
Identifiers
Latin ligamenta glenohumeralia
TA98 A03.5.08.003
TA2 1766
FMA 34961
Anatomical terminology

In human anatomy, the glenohumeral ligaments (GHL) are three ligaments on the anterior side of the glenohumeral joint (i.e. between the glenoid cavity of the scapula and the head of the humerus; colloquially called the shoulder joint). Reinforcing the anterior glenohumeral joint capsule, the superior, middle, and inferior glenohumeral ligaments play different roles in the stability of the head of the humerus depending on arm position and degree of rotation. [1]

Contents

Location

The ligaments may be best seen by opening the capsule at the back of the joint and removing the head of the humerus: [2]

In addition to these, the capsule is strengthened in front by two bands derived from the tendons of the Pectoralis major and Teres major respectively. [2]

Function

The most important ligament involved in shoulder joint stability is the Inferior Glenohumeral Ligament. During abduction of the arm the middle and inferior ligaments become taut while the superior ligament relaxes. The radius of curvature of the head of the humerus is greater superiorly than inferiorly, which further stretches these ligaments so that they keep the articular surfaces of the joint in their close-packed position. [3]

During abduction the greater tubercle of the humerus comes in contact with the upper margin of the glenoid cavity, which limits maximum abduction. By rotating the humerus laterally, this contact is delayed because the greater tubercle is pulled back so that the bicipital groove faces the coracoacromial ligament. This slightly slackens the inferior fibres of the glenohumeral ligament, allowing an abduction of 90°. Combining abduction with 30° flexion in the plane of the scapula causes a delay in the tightening of the ligament resulting in a maximum abduction of 110°. [3]

During rotation of the arm lateral rotation stretches all three ligaments while medial rotation relaxes them. [3]

Tension of ligaments [4]
Ligament Shoulder motions to pull the ligament taut Humeral head motion to pull the ligament taut
Superior glenohumeral lig. Full adduction Inferior or anterior glide
Middle glenohumeral lig. External rotation Anterior glide
Inferior glenohumeral lig.
Anterior band
Posterior band

Abduction and external rotation
Abduction and internal rotation
Non specific
Coracohumeral lig. Extremes of flexion, extension, or external rotation Inferior glide

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scapula</span> Bone that connects the humerus (upper arm bone) with the clavicle (collar bone)

The scapula, also known as the shoulder blade, is the bone that connects the humerus with the clavicle. Like their connected bones, the scapulae are paired, with each scapula on either side of the body being roughly a mirror image of the other. The name derives from the Classical Latin word for trowel or small shovel, which it was thought to resemble.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Humerus</span> Long bone of the upper arm

The humerus is a long bone in the arm that runs from the shoulder to the elbow. It connects the scapula and the two bones of the lower arm, the radius and ulna, and consists of three sections. The humeral upper extremity consists of a rounded head, a narrow neck, and two short processes. The body is cylindrical in its upper portion, and more prismatic below. The lower extremity consists of 2 epicondyles, 2 processes, and 3 fossae. As well as its true anatomical neck, the constriction below the greater and lesser tubercles of the humerus is referred to as its surgical neck due to its tendency to fracture, thus often becoming the focus of surgeons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rotator cuff</span> Group of muscles

The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and their tendons that act to stabilize the human shoulder and allow for its extensive range of motion. Of the seven scapulohumeral muscles, four make up the rotator cuff. The four muscles are:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shoulder</span> Part of the body

The human shoulder is made up of three bones: the clavicle (collarbone), the scapula, and the humerus as well as associated muscles, ligaments and tendons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upper limb</span> Consists of the arm, forearm, and hand

The upper limbs or upper extremities are the forelimbs of an upright-postured tetrapod vertebrate, extending from the scapulae and clavicles down to and including the digits, including all the musculatures and ligaments involved with the shoulder, elbow, wrist and knuckle joints. In humans, each upper limb is divided into the arm, forearm and hand, and is primarily used for climbing, lifting and manipulating objects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teres minor muscle</span> Muscle of the rotator cuff

The teres minor is a narrow, elongated muscle of the rotator cuff. The muscle originates from the lateral border and adjacent posterior surface of the corresponding right or left scapula and inserts at both the greater tubercle of the humerus and the posterior surface of the joint capsule.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suprascapular nerve</span> Mixed nerve of the upper limb

The suprascapular nerve is a mixed nerve that branches from the upper trunk of the brachial plexus. It is derived from the ventral rami of cervical nerves C5-C6. It provides motor innervation to the supraspinatus muscle, and the infraspinatus muscle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supraspinatus muscle</span> Muscle of the upper back

The supraspinatus is a relatively small muscle of the upper back that runs from the supraspinous fossa superior portion of the scapula to the greater tubercle of the humerus. It is one of the four rotator cuff muscles and also abducts the arm at the shoulder. The spine of the scapula separates the supraspinatus muscle from the infraspinatus muscle, which originates below the spine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Infraspinatus muscle</span> Main external rotator of the shoulder

In human anatomy, the infraspinatus muscle is a thick triangular muscle, which occupies the chief part of the infraspinatous fossa. As one of the four muscles of the rotator cuff, the main function of the infraspinatus is to externally rotate the humerus and stabilize the shoulder joint.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shoulder joint</span> Synovial ball and socket joint in the shoulder

The shoulder joint 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 and the head of the humerus. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Subscapularis muscle</span> Large triangle muscle of the shoulder

The subscapularis is a large triangular muscle which fills the subscapular fossa and inserts into the lesser tubercle of the humerus and the front of the capsule of the shoulder-joint.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shoulder girdle</span> Set of bones which connects the arm to the axial skeleton on each side

The shoulder girdle or pectoral girdle is the set of bones in the appendicular skeleton which connects to the arm on each side. In humans it consists of the clavicle and scapula; in those species with three bones in the shoulder, it consists of the clavicle, scapula, and coracoid. Some mammalian species have only the scapula.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SLAP tear</span> Medical condition

A SLAP tear or SLAP lesion is an injury to the superior glenoid labrum that initiates in the back of the labrum and stretches toward the front into the attachment point of the long head of the biceps tendon. SLAP is an acronym for "Superior Labrum Anterior and Posterior". SLAP lesions are commonly seen in overhead throwing athletes but middle-aged labor workers can also be affected, and they can be caused by chronic overuse or an acute stretch injury of the shoulder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glenoid fossa</span> Part of the shoulder

The glenoid fossa of the scapula or the glenoid cavity is a bone part of the shoulder. The word glenoid is pronounced or and is from Greek: gléne, "socket", reflecting the shoulder joint's ball-and-socket form. It is a shallow, pyriform articular surface, which is located on the lateral angle of the scapula. It is directed laterally and forward and articulates with the head of the humerus; it is broader below than above and its vertical diameter is the longest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coracohumeral ligament</span> Ligament of the shoulder

The coracohumeral ligament is a broad ligament of the shoulder. It attaches to the coracoid process at one end, and to the greater and lesser tubercles of the humerus at the other. It strengthens the upper part of the joint capsule of the shoulder joint.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anatomical neck of humerus</span> Obliquely directed, forming an obtuse angle with the body of the humerus

The anatomical neck of the humerus is obliquely directed, forming an obtuse angle with the body of the humerus. It represents the fused epiphyseal plate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of human anatomy</span> Overview of and topical guide to human anatomy

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to human anatomy:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capsule of the glenohumeral joint</span> Articular capsule of the shoulder joint

The capsule of the glenohumeral (shoulder) joint is the articular capsule of the shoulder. It completely surrounds the joint. It is attached above to the circumference of the glenoid cavity beyond the glenoidal labrum, and below to the anatomical neck of the humerus, approaching nearer to the articular cartilage above than in the rest of its extent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elbow</span> Joint between the upper and lower parts of the arm

The elbow is the region between the upper arm and the forearm that surrounds the elbow joint. The elbow includes prominent landmarks such as the olecranon, the cubital fossa, and the lateral and the medial epicondyles of the humerus. The elbow joint is a hinge joint between the arm and the forearm; more specifically between the humerus in the upper arm and the radius and ulna in the forearm which allows the forearm and hand to be moved towards and away from the body. The term elbow is specifically used for humans and other primates, and in other vertebrates it is not used. In those cases, forelimb plus joint is used.

Humeral avulsion of the glenohumeral ligament (HAGL) is defined as an avulsion of the inferior glenohumeral ligament from the anatomic neck of the humerus. In other words, it occurs when we have disruption of the ligaments that join the humerus to the glenoid. HAGL tends to occur in 7.5-9.3% of cases of anterior shoulder instability. Making it an uncommon cause of anterior shoulder instability. Avulsion of this ligamentous complex may occur in three sites: glenoid insertion (40%), the midsubstance (35%) and the humeral insertion (25%). Bony humeral avulsion of the glenohumeral ligament (BHAGL) refers when we have HAGL with bony fracture.

References

PD-icon.svgThis article incorporates text in the public domain from page 318 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. Freure, B. Jane; Leighton Jones, Peter; Werstine, Melanie (February 2011). "Anatomical Variance of Glenohumeral Ligaments and Their Clinical Significance". Curtin University. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  2. 1 2 Gray's Anatomy (1918), see infobox
  3. 1 2 3 Kapandji, Ibrahim Adalbert (1982). The Physiology of the Joints: Volume One Upper Limb (5th ed.). New York: Churchill Livingstone. p. 30.
  4. Huei-Ming, Chai (January 2006). "Shoulder Complex Stability". National Taiwan University. Archived from the original on 9 July 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2011.