Clinical - Frozen Shoulder Flashcards
(112 cards)
What is the most common cause of shoulder pain, especially as you get older?
Rotator cuff disease
What are the 4 joints of the shoulder?
- Glenohumeral 2. Acromioclavicular 3. Sternoclavicular 4. Scapulothoracic
What is the glenohumeral joint?
Arguably the true shoulder joint - between the glenoid fossa of the scapula and the head of the humerus
What is the acromioclavicular (AC) joint?
Joint between the acromion of the scapula and the clavicle
What is the sternoclavicular joint?
Joins shoulder to axial skeleton - joint between sternum and clavicle
What is the scapulothoracic joint?
Arguably not a true joint but acts like one - gathers the sternoclavicular and AC joints at the junction between the anterior surface of the scapula and the thoracic cage. Where anterior surface of scapula comes into communication with posterior part of chest wall.
Diagram of head of humerus and tuberosities

What runs in the bicipital groove?
Bicep tendon
Diagram of glenoid fossa

What is the glenoid labrum? What is its function?
Fibrocartilage rim attached around the margin of the glenoid cavity - function is to deepen the shallow gleniod fossa, but depsite this it is still not a true ball and socket joint
What is the glenoid fossa deepend by?
Glenoid labrum
What encloses the strucutres of the glenohumeral joint?
The joint capsule - a fibrous sheath that extends from the anatomical neck of the humerus to the border or ‘rim’ of the glenoid fossa.
What lines the inner surface of the joint capsule of the glenohumeral joint?
Synovial membrane
What does the synovial membrane produce? What is purpose of this?
Synovial fluid - reduces friction between the articular surfaces.
What type of joint is the glenohumeral joint?
Synovial joint
What is a synovial joint?
Joins bones or cartilage with a fibrous joint capsule
Why is the glenohumeral joint so unstable?
Due to large head of humerus and small glenoid fossa –> poor fit for ball and socket joint
The capsule of the glenohumeral joint is lax. What does this allow?
Relaxed - allows rotation and elevation (greater mobility)
What is highlighted in blue?

Joint capsule
The joint capsule of the glenohumeral is thicker anteriorly. Why is this?
Risk of anterior dislocation - main source of stability for the shoulder, holding it in place and preventing it from dislocating anteriorly.
What are the ligaments of the shoulder?
- Glenohumeral
- Coracohumeral
- Transverse humeral
- Coracoacromial ligament
- Acromioclavicular ligament
- Coraco–clavicular ligament
What are the glenohumeral ligaments?
Superior, middle and inferior

Function of glenohumeral ligaments?
They are the main source of stability for the shoulder, holding it in place and preventing it from dislocating anteriorly. They act to stabilise the anterior aspect of the joint.
What do the 3 glenohumeral ligaments form?
Joint capsule - ligaments connect the humerus to the glenoid fossa










