Sternoclavicular joint
Last revised by Ian Bickle on 26 Jul 2022
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Knipe H, Bickle I, Feger J, et al. Sternoclavicular joint. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 03 Dec 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-29705
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29705
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Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Henry Knipe had no recorded disclosures.
View Henry Knipe's current disclosuresLast revised:
26 Jul 2022, Ian Bickle ◉
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Ian Bickle had no recorded disclosures.
View Ian Bickle's current disclosuresRevisions:
14 times, by 9 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures
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The sternoclavicular joint is a synovial joint between the medial clavicle, manubrium and the first costal cartilage that joins the upper limb with the axial skeleton.
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Gross anatomy
There are two non-congruent articular surfaces forming a saddle joint 3:
- medial clavicle: larger of the two
- clavicular notch of the sternum: smaller of the two
The articular surfaces are covered with fibrocartilage (rather than hyaline cartilage as in most other synovial joints). The joint space is divided into two separate recesses by a fibrocartilage articular disc 1,2.
Ligaments
Due to the non-congruent articular facets, much of the joint stability comes from surrounding ligaments 3,4:
- anterior and posterior sternoclavicular ligament: thickenings of the joint capsule
- interclavicular ligament: between the superomedial ends of the clavicles
- costoclavicular ligament
Special structures
- articular disc
Relations
- anteriorly: sternocleidomastoid muscle 3
- posteriorly: sternohyoid muscle, sternothyroid muscle, brachiocephalic veins, the origin of the great vessels 2
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Blood supply
- arterial supply: internal thoracic and suprascapular arteries 5
Innervation
- medial supraclavicular and subclavian nerves 5
Variant anatomy
- ~2.5% of the population have an inferior facet for articulation with the first rib 3
- perforation of the articular disc, where the joint recesses are in communication 3
Related pathology
- sternoclavicular joint dislocation
- site of septic arthritis, especially in intravenous drug use 4
- SAPHO syndrome
Quiz questions
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References
- 1. Restrepo CS, Martinez S, Lemos DF et-al. Imaging appearances of the sternum and sternoclavicular joints. Radiographics. 2009;29 (3): 839-59. doi:10.1148/rg.293055136 - Pubmed citation
- 2. Klein MA, Miro PA, Spreitzer AM et-al. MR imaging of the normal sternoclavicular joint: spectrum of findings. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1995;165 (2): 391-3. doi:10.2214/ajr.165.2.7618564 - Pubmed citation
- 3. Disorders of the shoulder. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN:0781756782. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 4. Brossmann J, Stäbler A, Preidler KW et-al. Sternoclavicular joint: MR imaging-anatomic correlation. Radiology. 1996;198 (1): 193-8. Pubmed citation
- 5. Dalley AF. Essential clinical anatomy. LWW. ISBN:0781799155. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
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Articles:
- Sternum
- Chest (supine view)
- Ribs (PA view)
- Paediatric clavicle abnormalities
- Clavicular fracture
- Common carotid artery
- Imaging the shoulder
- Vacuum phenomenon
- Brachiocephalic trunk
- Sternoclavicular joint injury
- SAPHO syndrome
- Medical abbreviations and acronyms (S)
- Costoclavicular ligament
- Acromioclavicular joint injury
- Subclavian vein
- Clavicle (AP view)
- Chest (lateral decubitus view)
- Chest (AP erect view)
- Chest (expiratory view)
- Saddle joint
Cases:
- Septic arthritis of the sternoclavicular joint with abscess formation
- Posterior sternoclavicular joint dislocation - ultrasound
- Sternoclavicular joint septic arthritis
- Sternoclavicular abscess and osteomyelitis
- Sternoclavicular joint dislocation
- Sternoclavicular joint (Gray's illustration)
- Normal sternoclavicular radiographs
- Sternoclavicular joint dislocation
- Fracture-dislocation of clavicle
- Septic arthritis of sternoclavicular joint
- Sternoclavicular joint posterior subluxation
- Sternoclavicular joint dislocation
- Vacuum phenomenon in the sternoclavicular joint
- Posterior dislocation of sternoclavicular joint
Multiple choice questions:
Related articles: Anatomy: Upper limb
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skeleton of the upper limb
- clavicle
- scapula
- humerus
- radius
- ulna
- hand
- accessory ossicles of the upper limb
- accessory ossicles of the shoulder
- accessory ossicles of the elbow
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accessory ossicles of the wrist (mnemonic)
- os centrale carpi
- os epilunate
- os epitriquetrum
- os styloideum
- os hamuli proprium
- lunula
- os triangulare
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- os paratrapezium
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pectoral girdle
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shoulder joint
- articulations
- associated structures
- joint capsule
- bursae
- ligaments
- movements
- scapulothoracic joint
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glenohumeral joint
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shoulder joint
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elbow joint
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wrist joint
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ligaments
- intrinsic ligaments
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- radioscaphoid ligament
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- dorsal radiotriquetral ligament
- dorsal radioulnar ligament
- volar radioulnar ligament
- radioscaphocapitate ligament
- long radiolunate ligament
- Vickers ligament
- short radiolunate ligament
- ulnolunate ligament
- ulnotriquetral ligament
- ulnocapitate ligament
- ulnar collateral ligament
- associated structures
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hand joints
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metacarpophalangeal joints
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interphalangeal joints
- palmar ligament (plate)
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- movements
- ossification centers
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pectoral girdle
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- anterior compartment of the arm
- posterior compartment of the arm
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anterior compartment of the forearm
- superficial
- intermediate
- deep
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posterior compartment of the forearm (extensors)
- superficial
- deep
- muscles of the hand
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accessory muscles
- elbow
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- palmaris longus profundus
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- volar wrist radial-side
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- flexor indicis profundus
- flexor carpi radialis vel profundus
- accessory head of the flexor pollicis longus (Gantzer muscle, common)
- volar wrist ulnar-side
- dorsal wrist
- blood supply to the upper limb
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arteries
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- brachial artery (proximal portion)
- ulnar artery
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- veins
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arteries
- innervation of the upper limb
- intercostobrachial nerve
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brachial plexus (mnemonic)
- branches from the roots
- branches from the trunks
- branches from the cords
- lateral cord
- posterior cord
- medial cord
- terminal branches
- lymphatic drainage of the upper limb
Related articles: Anatomy: Thoracic
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- diaphragm
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- intercostal muscles
- variant anatomy
- spaces of the thorax
- thoracic viscera
- lower respiratory tract
-
heart
- cardiac chambers
- heart valves
- cardiac fibrous skeleton
- innervation of the heart
- development of the heart
- cardiac wall
-
pericardium
- epicardium
- epicardial fat pad
- pericardial space
- oblique pericardial sinus
- transverse pericardial sinus
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pericardial recesses
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- myocardium
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pericardium
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thoracic aorta (development)
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ascending aorta
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aortic root
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coronary arteries
- coronary arterial dominance
- myocardial segments
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left main coronary artery (LMCA)
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circumflex artery (LCx)
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left anterior descending artery (LAD)
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right coronary artery (RCA)
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aortic root
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ascending aorta
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thoracic aorta (development)
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coronary veins
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cardiac veins which drain into the coronary sinus
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cardiac veins which drain into the coronary sinus
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