Session 3 Flashcards
How does the trapezius rotate the scapula?
Superior and inferior parts of trapezius act together to rotate scapula upwards and outwards on chest wall (elevating Glenoid cavity)
Serratus anterior muscle also assists in upward rotation of the scapula.
Scapular rotation is responsible for abduction of arm above horizontal (90 degrees)
Describe the Trapezius
- Direct attachment of pectoral girdle to trunk
- Act on scapulothoracic joint
- Innervation: spinal accessory nerve (CNXI) and C3, C4 spinal nerves (pain and proprioceptive fibres)
- Divided into 3 parts: superior part elevates scapula (shrugging), middle part retracts scapula (squaring shoulder), inferior part depresses scapula
- Test trapezius by asking patient to shrug shoulder against resistance
Describe the Latissimus Dorsi
Wide origin, narrow insertion, fan-shaped
Powerful adductor of arm (climber’s muscle) and extends arm at shoulder joint, medial rotator innervation:
Thoracodorsal nerve (C7, C6, C8 from posterior cord of the brachial plexus)
Describe the Levator Scapulae
Elevates Scapula
Rotates scapula depressing Glenoid cavity
Describe Rhomboids Major and Minor
2 flat muscles with parallel fibres
Retracts scapula, rotates scapula, depresses Glenoid cavity, fixes scapula to thoracic wall
Innervation: dorsal scapular nerve (C4, C5)
Deltoid Muscle
Anterior fibres (Clavicular) - flexion of arm at shoulder joint
Middle fibres (Acromial) - abducts arm from 15-90
Posterior fibres (Spine of Scapula) - extends arm at shoulder joint, lateral rotation
Nerve supply: axillary nerve C5, C6
Describe the Teres Major
Adducts arm and medial rotation
Helps extend the arm from the flexed position
Lower subscapular nerve (C5, C6)
Describe the Shoulder Joint
Synovial joint of ball and socket
AKA gleno-humeral joint
Movement occurs at both glenohumeral and in abduction movement in scapulothoracic joints as well
Greatest range of movement of all joints but it is the most commonly disclosed joint.
Mobility is achieved at the cost of stability.
Why is the Shoulder Joint unstable?
Glenoid cavity is shallow
Disproportion of articular surfaces - the Glenoid cavity accepts little more than a third of the large, round humeral head
Multi planar movements
Lax capsule: loose fibrous layer of the joint capsule surrounding the joint
How is stability of the shoulder joint achieved?
Rotator cuff muscles (most important)
Other muscles
Ligaments
Capsule
- Glenoid labrum deepens the Glenoid cavity
Describe the synovial membrane around the shoulder joint
Lines the capsule and bone up to the edge of the articulating surfaces,
A tubular sleeve of synovium reflected back around the biceps long head tendon (which lies within the joint) like a tube
The synovium and joint capsule is continuous with subscapular bursa through a gap in the capsule.

What are the intracapsular ligaments of the shoulder joint?
3 glenohumeral ligaments (superior, middle, inferior)
Coracohumeral ligament
Describe the glenohumeral ligaments
3 fibrous bands that reinforce the anterior part of the joint capsule
Radiate from the Glenoid labrum at the supraglenoid fossa and blend display with the fibrous layer of the capsule as it is attached to the anatomical neck of the humerus.

Describe the coracohumeral ligament
Strong broad band that passes from the base of the CORACOID process to the anterior aspect of the greater tubercle of the humerus
Strengthens joint capsule superiorly

What are the extracapsular ligaments of the shoulder joint?
Transverse humeral
Coraco-Acromial ligament
Describe the Transverse Humeral Ligament
Broad fibrous band that runs obliquely from greater to lesser tubercle, bridging over the intertubulcular groove.
It holds the synovial sheath and long biceps head tendon in place during movement - maintains stability.

Describe the Coracoacrmial Arch
Strong osseoligamentous structure formed by the acromion, CORACOID process and the coraco-Acromial ligament spanning between them.
Structure overlies humeral head
Prevents upper/superior displacement of humerus from Glenoid cavity
Supports joint superiorly
It is so strong that a forceful superior thrust of the humerus will not fracture it; the humeral shaft or clavicle fractures first.

How the Rotator Cuff Muscles stabilize the shoulder joint?
Hold the head of the humerus in the Glenoid cavity
Tendons blend with each other as they approach the humeral head to form a cuff which also fuses with capsule and strengthens it
Supraspinatus tendon is separated from the coracoacromial arch by subacromial bursa
Support joint anteriorly, posteriorly and superiorly.
What is the space between the acromion and head of humerus?
About 1-1.5 cm
Interposed in this space are: subacromial bursa, rotator cuff tendons, capsule, tendon of long head of biceps
What are the other muscles stabilising the shoulder joint?
Deltoid
Long head of biceps
Long head of triceps
Describe the subtendinous bursa of subscapularis
Facilitates movement of tendon of subscapularis muscle over scapula - protects tendon where it passes inferior to the root of the CORACOID process and over the neck of the scapula
Communicates with the joint cavity
Describe the subacromial bursa
Facilitates movement of supraspinatus tendon under the coracoacromial arch and deltoid muscle over the shoulder joint capsule and the greater tubercle of humerus.
Inflammation of bursa - subacromial bursitis - causes pain on abduction of the arm between 50 and 130 degrees (‘painful arc syndrome’
What are the movements of the shoulder joint and muscles that produce them?
Flexion: Pec Major (Clavicular head), anterior fibres of deltoid, coracobrachialis and biceps brachii
Extension: posterior fibres of deltoid, Latissimus dorsi and Teres Major Abduction: Supraspinatus, Deltoid, Trapezius and Serratus Anterior (above 90 by rotating scapula)
Adduction: pec major, latissimus dorsi, teres major, long head of triceps brachii (+gravity in upright position)
Medial rotation: subscapularis, teres major, pec major, lat dorsi
Lateral rotation: infraspinatus and teres minor
Resisting downward dislocation (shunt muscles): deltoid, long head of triceps brachii, coracobrachialis, short head of biceps brachii
Describe the neurovascular supply to shoulder joint
Anterior and posterior circumflex humeral arteries and suprascapular artery
Suprascapular, axillary and lateral pectoral nerves from the brachial plexus