Glenohumeral ligaments

Changed by Amir Rezaee, 30 Jul 2015

Updates to Article Attributes

Body was changed:

Show markup changes

There are three glenohumeral ligaments (GHL), which are thickenings of the glenohumeral joint capsule and are important passive stabilisers of the joint.

Gross anatomy

Superior glenohumeral ligament

runs from the superior aspect of the glenoid and coracoid process to the fovea capitis~~, just~~ just superior to the lesser tuberosity of thehumerus
~~stabilises~~initially anterior then anteroinferior to the long head of the biceps tendon; stabilises the biceps brachii tendon ³

Middle glenohumeral ligament

runs from the anterosuperior glenoid, arising just inferior to the superior HGL, to the anterior aspect of the anatomic neck of the humerus

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 lateral humerus
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 extreme range of motion and is the main stabiliser of the abducted shoulder^{1, 4}

Variant anatomy

superior GHL is almost always present (97%) but has variable origin:
- arises with biceps brachii tendon
- arises with middle GHL
middle GHL is variable in size and appearance ¹ and absent in 30% ³
- forms part of the Buford complex

Related pathology

humeral avulsion of the glenohumeral ligament (HAGL)
bony humeral avulsion of the glenohumeral ligament (BHAGL lesion)

-<li>runs from the superior aspect of the <a href="/articles/glenoid">glenoid</a> and <a href="/articles/coracoid-process">coracoid process</a> to the fovea capitis, just superior to the lesser tuberosity of the <a href="/articles/humerus">humerus</a>
+<li>runs from the superior aspect of the <a href="/articles/glenoid">glenoid</a> and <a href="/articles/coracoid-process">coracoid process</a> to the fovea capitis just superior to the lesser tuberosity of the <a href="/articles/humerus">humerus</a>
~~-<li>stabilises the <a href="/articles/biceps-brachii">biceps brachii</a> tendon <sup>3</sup>~~
+<li>initially anterior then anteroinferior to the long head of the biceps tendon; stabilises the <a href="/articles/biceps-brachii">biceps brachii</a> tendon <sup>3</sup>