Glenohumeral ligaments
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View Henry Knipe's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Joshua Yap had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Joshua Yap's current disclosures- Glenohumeral ligament
- Glenohumeral ligament (GHL)
- Inferior glenohumeral ligament complex
- SGHL
- MGHL
- IGHL complex
- IGHL
- Inferior glenohumeral ligament
- Middle glenohumeral ligament
- Superior glenohumeral ligament
The three glenohumeral ligaments (GHL) are thickenings of the glenohumeral joint capsule and are important passive stabilizers of the joint.
On this page:
Gross anatomy
Superior glenohumeral ligament
runs from the superior aspect of the glenoid and coracoid process to the superior part of the lesser tubercle of the humerus at the medial edge of the intertubercular fossa
initially anterior then anteroinferior to the long head of the biceps tendon; stabilizes the biceps brachii tendon 3
Middle glenohumeral ligament
runs from the anterosuperior glenoid, arising just inferior to the superior GHL, to the anterior proximal humerus below the superior GHL attachment at the base of the lesser tubercle 6
Inferior glenohumeral ligament
sometimes referred to as the inferior glenohumeral ligament complex 4
runs from the inferior two-thirds of the glenoid labrum and/or neck to the inferior aspect of the anatomical humeral neck
-
composed of three parts
anterior band
posterior band
axillary pouch: laxity between anterior and posterior bands
most important of the three GHLs as it prevents dislocation at the extreme range of motion and is the main stabilizer of the abducted shoulder 1,4
Spiral glenohumeral ligament
also referred to as fasciculus obliquus 5
runs from the infraglenoid tubercle and triceps tendon to the lesser tubercle of the humerus where it shares an insertion with the subscapularis tendon
not well-known, but consistently demonstrated on both anatomic dissection and MR arthrography 5
Variant anatomy
-
superior GHL is almost always present (97% ref) but has a variable origin
arises with biceps brachii tendon 7
arises with middle GHL 7
may be thickened in the setting of an absent/hypoplastic middle GHL 7
may be absent in the setting of a Buford complex 8
-
middle GHL is variable in size and appearance 1 and absent in 30% 3
forms part of the Buford complex
Related pathology
Quiz questions
References
- 1. Wolfgang Dähnert. Radiology Review Manual. (2011) ISBN: 9781609139438 - Google Books
- 2. Beltran J, Rosenberg Z, Chandnani V, Cuomo F, Beltran S, Rokito A. Glenohumeral Instability: Evaluation with MR Arthrography. Radiographics. 1997;17(3):657-73. doi:10.1148/radiographics.17.3.9153704 - Pubmed
- 3. Philip Robinson. Essential Radiology for Sports Medicine. (2010) ISBN: 9781441959720 - Google Books
- 4. Charles A. Rockwood. The Shoulder. (2009) ISBN: 9781416034278 - Google Books
- 5. Merila M, Leibecke T, Gehl HB et-al. The anterior glenohumeral joint capsule: macroscopic and MRI anatomy of the fasciculus obliquus or so-called ligamentum glenohumerale spirale. Eur Radiol. 2004;14 (8): 1421-6. doi:10.1007/s00330-004-2296-2 - Pubmed citation
- 6. Bencardino J & Beltran J. MR Imaging of the Glenohumeral Ligaments. Radiol Clin North Am. 2006;44(4):489-502. doi:10.1016/j.rcl.2006.04.004 - Pubmed
- 7. Motamedi D, Everist B, Mahanty S, Steinbach L. Pitfalls in Shoulder MRI: Part 1—Normal Anatomy and Anatomic Variants. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2014;203(3):501-7. doi:10.2214/ajr.14.12848 - Pubmed
- 8. Hantes M & Raoulis V. Arthroscopic Findings in Anterior Shoulder Instability. Open Orthop J. 2017;11(1):119-32. doi:10.2174/1874325001711010119 - Pubmed
Incoming Links
- Anterior shoulder dislocation
- Subscapularis tendon tear
- Glenoid
- Biceps pulley injury
- Rotator cuff interval
- Inferior shoulder dislocation
- Subcoracoid impingement
- J sign (shoulder)
- Shoulder
- Comma sign of subscapularis tear
- Medical abbreviations and acronyms (S)
- Glenohumeral joint
- Foramen of Rouviere
- Long head of biceps tendon
- Bony humeral avulsion of the glenohumeral ligament lesion
- MRI of the shoulder (an approach)
- West Point classification of humeral avulsion of the glenohumeral ligament
- Scapula
- Spiral glenohumeral ligament
- Anterior labroligamentous periosteal sleeve avulsion lesion
- Concealed interstitial delamination and Buford complex
- West Point classification of humeral avulsion of the glenohumeral ligament (illustrations)
- Humeral avulsion of the glenohumeral ligament (HAGL lesion)
- Adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder
- Buford complex (MR arthrogram)
- Humeral avulsion of the posterior band of glenohumeral ligament
- Buford complex
- Buford complex
- Buford complex
- Glenoid avulsion of the glenohumeral ligament
- Glenolabral articular disruption lesion (GLAD)
- Bony humeral avulsion of the glenohumeral ligament (BHAGL) lesion (illustration)
- Humeral avulsion of glenohumeral ligament (illustration)
- Adhesive capsulitis with rotator cuff tendinopathy
- Buford complex
- Adhesive capsulitis: shoulder
- Middle glenohumeral ligament injury
- Trough fracture and reverse Bankart lesion
- Inferior and middle glenohumeral ligament tears
- Humeral avulsion of the glenohumeral ligament (HAGL)
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