The shoulder joint contains several crucial ligaments that provide stability and support. These ligaments connect the scapula (shoulder blade) to the humerus (upper arm bone).
Key Shoulder Ligaments
The main ligaments supporting the shoulder joint are:
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Coracohumeral Ligament: This ligament connects the coracoid process of the scapula to the humerus. It helps to stabilize the shoulder joint and limits downward movement of the humerus.
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Glenohumeral Ligaments: This group comprises three ligaments:
- Superior Glenohumeral Ligament: Provides significant stability to the shoulder, particularly during abduction (lifting your arm away from your body).
- Middle Glenohumeral Ligament: Plays a role in shoulder stability, particularly when the arm is slightly abducted.
- Inferior Glenohumeral Ligament: The largest of the three; it has anterior and posterior bands and is particularly important in stabilizing the joint during arm adduction (bringing your arm closer to your body). These ligaments also help absorb forces transmitted to the acromion (part of the shoulder blade) by large muscles such as the deltoid and trapezius.
It's important to note that other ligaments contribute to overall shoulder stability, although they may not directly connect the scapula and humerus. These include ligaments within the acromioclavicular (AC) and sternoclavicular (SC) joints.
