Trauma to the shoulder is common. Injuries range from a separated shoulder resulting from a fall onto the shoulder to a high-speed car accident that fractures the shoulder blade (scapula) or collar bone (clavicle). One thing is certain: everyone injures his or her shoulder at some point in life.
The shoulder is made up of three bones:
- Scapula (shoulder blade)
- Clavicle (collar bone)
- Humerus (arm bone)
These bones are joined together by soft tissues (ligaments, tendons, muscles, and joint capsule) to form a platform for the arm to work.
The shoulder is made up of three joints:
- Glenohumeral joint
- Acromioclavicular joint
- Sternoclavicular joint
The shoulder also has one articulation, which is the relationship between the scapula (shoulder blade) and the chest wall.
The main joint of the shoulder is the glenohumeral joint. This joint comprises a ball (the humeral head) on a golf-tee-shaped joint (the glenoid of the scapula).
The bones of the shoulder are covered by several layers of soft tissues.
- The top layer is the deltoid muscle, a muscle just beneath the skin, which gives the shoulder a rounded appearance. The deltoid muscle helps to bring the arm overhead.
- Directly beneath the deltoid muscle is sub-deltoid bursa, a fluid-filled sac, analogous to a water balloon.
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Are you experiencing shoulder pain? Call the Shoulder & Orthopedic Institute today at 405-330-8847. Ryan L. Nelson, D.O. is an orthopedic doctor & surgeon in Oklahoma City that can help you identify the source of your joint pain and establish a treatment plan.