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Anatomy of the glenohumeral joint

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Notes

Anatomy of the Glenohumeral Joint

Figure 1: A. Anterior view of the rotator cuff muscles. B. Posterior view of the rotator cuff muscles.
Figure 2: A. Anterior view of the ligaments of the glenohumeral joint. B. Lateral view of the ligaments of the glenohumeral joint. 
Figure 3: A. Anterior view of the bursae, biceps brachii muscle and glenohumeral joint. B. Lateral view of glenohumeral joint ligaments. 
Figure 4: Arteries supplying glenohumeral joint A. Anterior view B. Posterior view
Muscle
Proximal Attachment
Distal Attachment
Innervation
Action
Supraspinatus

  • Supraspinous fossa of scapula

  • Superior facet of
    greater tubercle
    of humerus 
  • Suprascapular nerve (C5, C6)
  • Initiates / assists deltoid in abduction of arm
  • Stabilizes glenohumeral joint
Infraspinatus
  • Infraspinous fossa of the scapula
  • Middle facet of the greater tubercle of the humerus
  • Suprascapular nerve (C5, C6)
  • Rotates arm laterally
  • Stabilizes glenohumeral joint
Teres minor
  • Middle part of the lateral border of the scapula
  • Inferior facet of the greater tubercle of the humerus
  • Axillary nerve (C5, C6)
  • Rotates arm laterally 
  • Stabilizes glenohumeral joint
Subscapularis
  • Subscapular fossa
  • Lesser tubercle of the humerus
  • Upper and lower subscapular nerves (C5, C6, C7) 
  • Rotates arm medially
  • Stabilizes glenohumeral joint
UNLABELLED DIAGRAMS

Transcript

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Content Reviewers

Scott Caterine, BSc (Hons.), MSc, MB, BCh, BAO (Hons.)

The glenohumeral joint, also known as the shoulder joint, is a ball and socket type of synovial joint: the ball being the head of the humerus, and the socket being the glenoid cavity of the scapula.

The shoulder joint is the most mobile joint in our body, and it allows us to do everything from pull ups, to throwing a baseball, and hugging our loved ones!

Let’s take a closer look at our articulating parts here. So, the head of the humerus fits into this shallow glenoid cavity.

The glenoid cavity is actually so shallow that it only covers one-third of the humeral head.

Having a shallow glenoid cavity allows for exceptional mobility as the humeral head can rotate freely to allow us an impressive range of motion.

At the same time, the contour of the glenoid cavity is lined by a fibrocartilaginous rim, called the glenoid labrum, which makes the cavity a little bit deeper, reducing the chance for dislocations.

Like any respectable synovial joint, the glenohumeral joint is covered by a tough, but loose, joint capsule with an internal synovial lining.

The joint capsule extends from the anatomical neck of the humerus, to the margin of the glenoid. This capsule has two apertures, or passageways.

The first one is between the tubercles of the humerus, which provides passage for the tendon of the long head of the biceps brachii.

This tendon then passes in the intertubercular groove covered by a broad fibrous band, called the transverse humeral ligament, which runs from the lesser tubercle of the humerus, to the greater tubercle.

The second aperture is situated inferior to the coracoid process, and it allows communication between the subtendinous bursa of the subscapularis and the joint’s synovial cavity.

Speaking of which, there are actually two bursae around the glenohumeral joint, which are basically pockets of synovial fluid.

There is one between the capsule and the tendon of the subscapularis muscle called the subtendinous bursa of the subscapularis and another one right under the acromion called the subacromial bursa.