Functional Anatomy of the Shoulder - Article Example

These include the glenohumeral, acromioclavicular, sternoclavicular and the scapulothoracic joint. The main joint of the shoulder is the glenohumeral joint. This joint consists of an articular surface, glenoid labrum, a joint capsule and the ligaments. These components of the joint are referred to as static stabilizers of the shoulder. Different groups of muscles also surround the shoulder. These are referred to as dynamic stabilizers of the joint. Each of the three bones has their own functions.

The humerus is known to be the bone with the greatest length in the upper limb. The scapula is a triangle shaped bone which consists of four processes. The four processes are known as coracoid, superior, acromion and glenoid process. It also has a cavity referred to as glenoid cavity. The coracoid, superior and the acromion processes serve mainly as origin and insertion sites of different muscles and ligaments which include trapezius, deltoid, corachobrachialis and pectoralis minor muscles as well as coracohumeral and coracoacromial ligaments.

Three of the essential joints of the shoulder are formed owing to different attachments at the scapula. The acromion process joins with the scapula to form the acromioclavicular joint. The glenoid cavity is the point of attachment of the humerus and this leads to the formation of the glenohumeral joint. The last joint is the scapulothoracic joint. The clavicle serves to be the most important conjunction between the body and the shoulder joint. It forms two important joints which include the acromioclavicular joint and the sternoclavicular joint.

The clavicle is an essential bone for the integrity of the shoulder joint owing to the muscles that originate and insert on the bone as well as the protection of the nerves and vessels. The bone also works towards making the shoulder joint steady and it stops the disarticulation of the shoulder in the downward and the medial direction. The muscles of the shoulder are referred to as dynamic stabilizers. They are known as dynamic owing to the fact that they assist and facilitate the shoulder in carrying out the movements and mobilize the shoulder.

These include the rotator cuff muscles which are a group of muscles that are found around the glenohumeral joint. These include subscapularis, supraspinatus, infraspinatus and teres minor. Other important shoulder muscles include trapezius, serratus anterior, rhomboids, levator scapulae, pectoralis major, pectoralis minor, teres major, latissmus dorsi, coracobrachialis and biceps. The shoulder stays stable and stays firm due to the joints which function as the static stabilizers. These joints are further secured by means of different stabilizers.

The glenohumeral joint is an important joint of the shoulder which is responsible for the free movement of the shoulder as well for making the shoulder stable. The joint is made strong by the function of capsule of the joint, labrum, capsulolabral ligaments and the muscles. The acromioclavicular joint is the other joint of the shoulder which is made stable by the help of capsule, intra-articular disc and the acromioclavicular and coracoclavicular ligaments. The sternoclavicular joint and scapulothoracic joint are also joints of the shoulder which are supported by means of ligaments and muscles.

The appropriate and maintained interaction between the