Anatomy · Upper Limb

Shoulder joint: anatomy, movements, stability and applied anatomy

7 min read

  • Shoulder (glenohumeral) joint: ball-and-socket synovial joint between the head of humerus and the glenoid cavity of scapula.
  • Primary articulation of the four-joint shoulder girdle complex (glenohumeral, acromioclavicular, sternoclavicular and scapulothoracic); the most mobile and least stable joint in the body.

Type and Articular Surfaces

  • Ball-and-socket type synovial joint.
  • Formed by the head of humerus articulating with the glenoid cavity of scapula, deepened by the glenoid labrum.
  • Head of humerus is large and round; glenoid cavity is relatively shallow; glenoid labrum is a fibrocartilaginous ring.

Ligaments

Ligaments of the shoulder joint