Spiral glenohumeral ligament
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Luijkx T, Campos A, Weerakkody Y, Spiral glenohumeral ligament. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 21 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-39465
rID:
39465
Article created:
5 Sep 2015,
Tim Luijkx
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Tim Luijkx had no recorded disclosures.
View Tim Luijkx's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Arlene Campos had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Arlene Campos's current disclosures
Revisions:
3 times, by
3 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Fasciculus obliquus
- Spiral ligament
- Ligamentum glenohumerale spirale
- Spiral GHL
The spiral glenohumeral ligament, also termed fasciculus obliquus, ligamentum glenohumerale spirale and spiral GHL, is a focal thickening of the glenohumeral joint capsule, akin to the other glenohumeral ligaments, yet it is not widely recognised 1.
Gross anatomy
The spiral glenohumeral ligament arises from the infraglenoid tubercle and the triceps tendon and has a joint insertion on the lesser tubercle of the humerus together with the subscapularis tendon 1.
The spiral glenohumeral ligament has been consistently demonstrated by anatomic dissection and on MRI 1.
Radiographic features
MRI
When visualised it is best appreciated as a hypointense structure on sagittal oblique and axial T1 and PD weighted sequences of MR arthrography 1.
References
- 1. Merila M, Leibecke T, Gehl H 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
- 2. Pouliart N, Somers K, Gagey O. Arthroscopic glenohumeral folds and microscopic glenohumeral ligaments: the fasciculus obliquus is the missing link. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2008;17 (3): 418-30. doi:10.1016/j.jse.2007.11.011 - Pubmed citation
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