Superior glenohumeral ligament

At a glance

English

Superior glenohumeral ligament

Latin (TA2)

Ligamentum glenohumerale superius

System

Ligament

Region

Upper limb

Side

Paired, left and right

About the superior glenohumeral ligament

The front of the shoulder capsule is reinforced from within by three glenohumeral ligaments, superior, middle and inferior. Each plays its part at a different arm position. The superior ligament is the smallest and most constant of the three, and works mainly with the arm hanging at the side.

It arises from the upper end of the glenoid rim, near the supraglenoid tubercle beside the coracoid root, often in common with the long head of biceps or the middle ligament. It runs downwards and laterally, parallel to the biceps tendon and on its medial side, to a small pit on the humerus just over the lesser tubercle, at the upper end of the intertubercular groove. It lies in the rotator interval, beneath the coracohumeral ligament. Together the two ligaments loop around the tendon of the long head of biceps where it turns down into its groove, forming a sling or pulley that keeps the tendon from slipping medially.

With the arm adducted the superior ligament is tight and, with the coracohumeral ligament, it resists downward sliding of the humeral head, so that the hanging arm does not sag in its socket. It also limits lateral rotation and forward translation in that position. As the arm is abducted the superior ligament slackens while the middle and inferior ligaments take up tension; lateral rotation tightens all three and medial rotation relaxes them.

Damage to the superior ligament and coracohumeral ligament breaks the biceps pulley. The long head tendon can then slide out of its groove medially, causing pain at the front of the shoulder and often a tear of the adjacent subscapularis tendon. Pulley lesions are recognised on MRI arthrography or at arthroscopy and may be treated by releasing or reattaching the biceps tendon.

Attachments and function

Attaches from

The top of the glenoid rim, by the supraglenoid tubercle and the coracoid root.

Attaches to

A small pit on the humerus just over the lesser tubercle, where the intertubercular groove begins.

Function

With the coracohumeral ligament, resists downward displacement of the humeral head with the arm at the side and stabilises the biceps tendon in its groove.

Nerve supply

Articular branches of the suprascapular and axillary nerves.

Blood supply

Branches of the anterior circumflex humeral and suprascapular arteries.