Shoulder joint anatomy in 3D
The shoulder joint (glenohumeral joint) is where the large head of the humerus meets the shallow glenoid cavity of the scapula, at the outer side of the shoulder. Because the socket is shallow, it has the widest range of movement of any joint in the body. A joint capsule and the tendons of the rotator cuff muscles surround it.
Frequently asked questions
Which bones form the shoulder joint?
The shoulder joint is formed by the scapula and the humerus.
What type of joint is the shoulder joint?
It is a ball-and-socket joint: the rounded head of the humerus sits in the socket of the scapula and can move in many directions.
What movements happen at the shoulder joint?
It allows flexion and extension (raising the arm forwards and back), abduction and adduction (out to the side and back), internal and external rotation, and circumduction, which combines them in a circle.
Bones of the shoulder joint
Other joints
- Acromioclavicular joint
- Elbow joint
- Radioulnar joints
- Wrist joint
- Thumb carpometacarpal joint
- Hip joint
- Sacroiliac joint
- Knee joint
- Ankle joint
- Subtalar joint
- Temporomandibular joint
- Atlanto-occipital joint
- Atlanto-axial joint
- Intervertebral joints
- Costovertebral joints
Skeleton
Read more
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Once the 3D model loads you can turn it and select each part.