Table of contents:
The shoulder
Due to its special biomechanics, the shoulder enables a very high range of motion. Although it is the most flexible joint system in the body, it is therefore exposed to a correspondingly high risk of injury…
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- Components of the shoulder
- Joints in the shoulder
Three individual joints are responsible for the mechanical functioning of the shoulder, which enable its complex mobility in all levels. In addition, a closely coordinated interplay of different muscles, tendons and ligaments is responsible for the function of the shoulder.
Components of the shoulder
Important components of the shoulder include:
- Shoulder blade (scapula) with joint socket (glenoid),
- Shoulder roof (acromion),
- Collarbone (clavicle),
- Head of the humerus (caput humeri),
- Muscle group of the rotator cuff (Musculus supraspinatus, M. infraspinatus, M. subscapularis, M. teres minor),
- Bursa (bursa subacromialis),
- various tendons and ligaments, including the long biceps tendon.
Anatomy of the shoulder joint © bilderzwerg
Joints in the shoulder
These joints make up the shoulder joint:
- Gleno-Humeral Joint: The main joint of the shoulder is located between the head of the humerus and the socket on the shoulder blade.
- Acromio-clavicular joint: Also known as the ankle joint or AC joint. This secondary joint is located between the roof of the shoulder and the collarbone.
- Sterno-clavicular joint: This secondary joint is located between the breastbone (sternum) and the collarbone.
- Scapulo-thoracic joint: between the shoulder blade and the posterior chest wall.
