Shoulder Anatomy

How the shoulder works

01
The shoulder is the most complex /sophisticated joint
in the body because:Text 002 Text 003
• It allows the greatest range of moment of any joint in the
body
• It has a series of complex muscles and ligaments that keep
it in joint
• It is made up of 4 joints and 5 linked bone groups which all
work together
• To allow movement the joints need to be free ‘unstable’
compared to the other joints in the body
Bones of the shoulder
The bones of the shoulder consist of:
• The Humerus (upper arm bone)
• The Scapula (shoulder blade)
• The Clavicle (collar bone) Text 003
bone)
Joints of the shoulder
4 Joints make up the shoulder:
• Glenohumeral Joint
• Acromioclavicular Joint
• Sternoclavicular Joint Text 003
• Scapulothoracic Joint
bone)
The Glenoid

• The ball on the Humerus sits in

the socket on the Scapula ‘The
Glenoid’
• The ball does not fit exactly Text 003
which allows increased
movement
• Stability is provided by muscle &
ligaments
Glenoid Labrum
• The socket of the shoulder is deepened by
the Glenoid Labrum
• It is similar to the Meniscus in the knee
• An injury to the shoulder can result in Text 003
damage to the ‘Labrum-’Labral tear
Shoulder Bursae
• Bursae are found where ever 2
body parts move against one
another to reduce friction
• It contains a small amount of
lubricating fluid Text 003
• Inflammation & swelling of the
Bursae are known as Bursitis
Ligaments & Tendons of the shoulder
01
• The structure of the shoulder is given stability by all our Ligaments that surround the area from front and back
aspects.

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• We have a similar connective tissue known as a Tendon, which is designed to withstand tension and are both
made from collagen but our Ligaments connect bone to bone were as Tendons connect muscle to bone.
 Muscles of the shoulder
During the shoulder class we work on exercises that are going to help support the
shoulder structure as a whole, that’s why it is so important to look at the big
picture of muscles that surround the area too.

Exercise can also be felt in areas such as the chest, back and arm muscles, this is
because they pair with our shoulder muscles to provide support and stability,
hopefully this can make day to day/occupational tasks pain free or easier to do
because the structure is working well together by not just isolating one specific
area to strengthen.
4 Rotator Cuff muscles work around
the shoulder blade (Scapula):
• Supraspinatus
• Infraspinatus
• Subscapularis Text 003
• Teres Minor

Together these help to stabilize

the shoulder
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Posterior Muscles of the shoulder

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Anterior Muscles of the shoulder

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Nerves of the arm

• Nerves travel down the arm under the axilla

(arm pit)
• They are known as the Brachial Plexus
• These nerves carry signals from the brain to
muscle to move the arm Text 003
• Nerves carry signals back to the brain about
sensation