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RADIOLOGIC
CLINICS
OF NORTH AMERICA
Radiol Clin N Am 44 (2006) 479–487
The shoulder is commonly imaged using MR im- inferior portion. A small bony indentation may be
aging, with or without intraarticular contrast me- present along the anterior border of the glenoid
dium. Some anatomic structures, such as the fossa. As a result, the anterosuperior portion of
rotator cuff tendons and bony components, can the labrum may remain unattached to the glenoid
be assessed without arthrographic technique, fossa, creating a sublabral hole [1].
whereas the glenohumeral ligaments and labrum The concavity of the bony glenoid fossa also may
require arthrographic technique for more accurate vary. Some may be shallow, others more concave.
assessment. In either case, an understanding of Some 18% to 25% of individuals may present with
the normal anatomy of the shoulder with regard a blunted posterior margin, also designated as pos-
to bony and soft tissue structures is essential for terior glenoid rim deficiency, predisposing to poste-
MR imaging interpretation. In this article we discuss rior subluxation. The shape of the cartilage and
normal anatomy and variations of the glenohum- labrum, however, may compensate for the bony
eral joint (bone and soft tissues), rotator cuff ten- deficiency. Usually the glenoid cavity reveals a 5- to
dons, and coracoacromial arch. 7-degree retroversion relative to the mediolateral
axis of the scapula. When retroversion becomes
more important, this may also predispose to poste-
Bony structures of the glenohumeral joint rior luxation, although scientific evidence remains
The shape of the glenoid fossa may vary consider- controversial [2].
ably. Some glenoid fossae are pear shaped with Dysplasia of the scapular neck is a rare condition
a narrower superior portion compared with the usually showing a shallow glenoid fossa with an
This article was previously published in Magnetic Resonance Imaging Clinics of North America 2004;12:1–10.
a
Division of Radiologic Sciences, Wake Forest University Hospital, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-
Salem, NC 27157, USA
b
Department of Experimental Anatomy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Jette, Belgium
* Corresponding author.
E-mail address: mdemaes2@wfubmc.edu (M. De Maeseneer).
0033-8389/06/$ – see front matter ª 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.rcl.2006.04.002
radiologic.theclinics.com
480 Maeseneer et al
individuals but may coexist with a superior subla- The subscapularis bursa is located between the scap-
bral recess [5]. A sublabral hole is typically found ula and subscapularis muscle. It communicates with
at the 2 o’clock position and is often seen when the joint through openings between the glenohum-
the glenoid cavity is pear shaped, becoming smaller eral ligaments and also through the sublabral fora-
above the equator. Measuring the width of the gle- men. A capsular reinforcement, designated as the
noid cavity below and above the equator may be an rotator cable, may be found on the posterosuperior
additional clue to the diagnosis of a sublabral hole. aspect of the capsule, presenting as a vertically ori-
In about 2% of individuals the anterosuperior la- ented fold [10].
brum is entirely absent. In some of these individ- The glenohumeral ligaments reinforce the ante-
uals the middle glenohumeral ligament may show rior and inferior portions of the capsule (Figs. 10
a cordlike thickening. This situation is often desig- and 11). Their appearance may vary from well-devel-
nated the Buford complex, and is seen in 1.5% of oped ligaments to bundles of collagen fibers in the
persons [4]. capsule with an orientation different from other
On the anterior aspect of the scapula the attach-
ment of the capsule was differentiated in three types
by Zlatkin et al [9]. In type 1 the capsule attaches
adjacent to the glenoid labrum. In type 2 the cap-
sule attaches at the level of the neck of the scapula,
and in type 3 the insertion is situated at the transi-
tion area between neck and body of the scapula.
The precise level of attachment may occasionally
be misinterpreted related to a large overhanging
subcoracoid or digitiform joint recess [9]. In the ax-
illary region the capsule may be partially fused with
the tendon of the triceps muscle that inserts on the
infraglenoid tubercle. At the level of the humerus
the capsule inserts on the anatomical neck. On
the posterior side a small bare area is present be-
tween the cartilage and the insertion of the capsule
on the humerus. The capsule of the glenohumeral
joint has three enlargements: the subcoracoid, axil-
lary, and intertubercular recesses [7]. Openings are
present in the capsule through which the joint cav-
ity is in direct continuity with these expansions. A Fig. 10. Note inferior glenohumeral ligament (arrow)
constant recess surrounds the long tendon of the on transverse MR arthrogram. Biceps tendon sur-
biceps muscle in the intertubercular groove (Fig. 9). rounded by peribicipital recess also is seen (B).
Normal MR Imaging Anatomy of the Rotator Cuff 483
Coracoacromial arch
The supraspinatus outlet corresponds to an osteoli-
gamentous ring formed by the spina scapula, the
acromion, the coracoacromial ligament, and the co-
rocoid process.
Fig. 11. Transverse CT arthrogram shows common or- The dimensions and orientation of the acromio-
igin of biceps (arrowheads) and superior glenohum- clavicular joint surfaces varies significantly among
eral ligament (arrow). individuals. A fibrous plica or cartilaginous menis-
cus may be present in the joint space, also altering
capsular fibers. In this situation the capsular folds joint configuration. The shape of the acromion
are only evident with certain arm positions. The su- may show considerable interindividual variation.
perior glenohumeral ligament originates from the The undersurface of the acromion, as seen on obli-
superior part of the glenoid cavity, anteriorly to the que sagittal MR images, has been classified into dif-
origin of the biceps tendon. Its origin may be shared ferent types. It may show a flattened, concave,
with the biceps tendon or middle glenohumeral lig- convex, or hooked appearance (Fig. 12). Although
ament. On transverse images the ligament courses it has been suggested that the convex and hooked
parallel to the lateral aspect of the coracoid process. types may predispose to rotator cuff tears, there also
The superior glenohumeral ligament is a fairly con- appears to be high interobserver variation in the
stant structure, present in most persons [4]. classification of acromial types. In the oblique sag-
The middle glenohumeral ligament attaches on ittal plane, anterior downsloping of the acromion
the anterosuperior labrum or the neck of the scap- may be assessed, and has also been listed as a cause
ula. It then courses in an inferolateral direction, in- of impingement. At the anterior aspect of the acro-
serting on the humerus medial to the lesser mion spur formation may occur in the coracoacro-
tuberosity. It is the most variable ligament in size mial ligament as a result of humeroacromial
and presence. It may be absent in 8% to 30% of conflict [2,16].
shoulders. It may have a cordlike appearance or In the oblique-coronal plane, lateral downslop-
may correspond to a capsular fold. Openings above ing of the acromion may be evaluated. The slope
and below the middle glenohumeral ligaments and the length of the acromial process in this plane
have been reported in 36% to 46% of shoulders. may result in limited subacromial space, although
One single opening superior to the middle gleno-
humeral ligament is reported in 6% to 18% of indi-
viduals. When the middle glenohumeral ligament
is absent a large communication may be found be-
tween the joint and subscapular bursa [11–13].
The inferior glenohumeral ligament has an ante-
rior and a posterior band and an intermediate por-
tion, the axillary recess. All structures together are
sometimes referred to as the ‘‘inferior glenohumeral
ligament complex.’’ The anterior band originates on
the anterior labrum at the 2 to 4 o’clock position.
The anterior band is thicker than the posterior band
in 75% of individuals. The posterior band origi-
nates on the posterior labrum at the 7 to 9 o’clock
Fig. 12. Line drawing showing different aspects of the
position. The anterior band attaches inferiorly to undersurface of the acromion in the oblique sagittal
the humeral head. It plays an important role in plane. Hooked acromion with marked downsloping
the stability of the shoulder [14]. limiting subacromial space (A), convex undersurface
The coracohumeral ligament originates from the (B), concave undersurface with wide subacromial
lateral aspect of the base of the corocoid process. It space (C).
484 Maeseneer et al
again the relationship with impingement remains Rotator cuff and bursae
unclear. The scapular spine root angle, the slope
of the acromion in the sagittal plane, and the acro- The rotator cuff is comprised of the subscapularis,
mial offset all are factors determining the supero- biceps, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and teres mi-
posterior bony coverage of the humeral head. nor muscles (Fig. 14). The subscapularis muscle
Most of these variations have been studied with may be divided into nine bellies (Fig. 15). The most
conflicting results, and precise values that allow dif- inferior belly may insert separately on the humerus
ferentiation of the normal from the abnormal are distally form the main insertion on the minor tro-
still lacking [2]. Dynamic MR studies may be per- chanter [6]. Occasionally a belly may insert on the
formed with the arm in different positions, prefera- coracoid process. The supraspinatus tendon con-
bly those that provoke the pain caused by tains a single large tendon and inserts on the greater
impingement. The clinical relevance of the results tubercle and superolateral aspect of the humerus
of such studies remains to be proven [17]. (Figs. 16 and 17). The most cranial portion of the
The os acromiale is an accessory ossicle between tendon appears more rounded and is also twice as
the distal aspects of clavicle and acromial process long as the remainder of the tendon. It constitutes
(Fig. 13). It is reported to be present in 1% to the posterior margin of the rotator cuff interval
15% of persons. It often results in clinical symp- [6]. A fusion between the infraspinatus and teres
toms of impingement, although in some cases it minor tendons is so common that the latter is
may be asymptomatic. The presence of secondary sometimes considered the inferior belly of the infra-
MR findings, such as rotator cuff tendinopathy spinatus. Hence, the presence of a separate teres mi-
and bone marrow edema, suggest the clinical rele- nor tendon should be considered a variation
vance of the os acromiale [18,19]. (Fig. 18) [6].
The coracoclavicular ligament is comprised of the Bursae about the shoulder joint are divided into
laterally situated trapezoid ligament and the medial communicating and noncommunicating types.
and posterior conoid ligament. The coracohumeral The communicating bursae include the subcora-
interval lies between the humeral head and cora- coid bursa, the subscapular bursa and the peribici-
coid process. In normal individuals this space aver- pital recess. Noncommunicating bursae include
ages 6.7 to 8.7 mm. Several morphologic variations a bursa superior to the acromioclavicular joint,
may predispose to anterior impingement [20]. a bursa near the inferior tip of the scapula, and
These coracoid changes include coracoid slope in
the sagittal and transverse planes, length of the cor-
acoid process, and coracoid offset. These factors de-
termine the available space between the anterior
aspect of the humeral head and the coracoid
process.
Fig. 19. Coronal anatomic slice. Joint space is seen Fig. 20. Transverse anatomic slice. Note anterior and
(short white arrow). Also note subacromiosubdeltoid posterior labrum (stars). Spinoglenoid fossa contain-
bursa (asterisks). Communication between joint space ing nerves for infraspinatus muscle is shown (white
and bursa is present as a result of ruptured supraspi- short arrow). (Courtesy of D. Resnick, MD, San Diego,
natus tendon (Courtesy of D. Resnick, MD, San Diego, CA.)
CA.)
neurovascular compression when hypertrophied, in athletes. Instead, the axillary nerve may pierce
such as in respiratory disease and certain sports. Be- the subscapularis muscle, leading to entrapment.
cause of the tremendous anatomic variability, most Other accessory muscles may be present in the ax-
surgeons are reluctant to operate in this region out illa and exert compression on diverse neurovascular
of concern for inadvertently injuring neurovascular structures.
structures, with catastrophic consequences.
Langer’s muscular arch of the axilla consists of
a tendinous or muscular connection between the Acknowledgements
latissimus dorsi and pectoralis major muscles. The
arch may exert compression on neurovascular struc- The authors thank Eric Barbaix, MD, Lecturer, De-
tures in the axilla [23]. partment of Anatomy, Rijks Universiteit Gent, Bel-
The suprascapular nerve passes through the scap- gium, for his knowledge of classic anatomic
ular notch and contains motor branches for the textbooks and anatomic variations. This work was
supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles (Fig. 20).
The scapular notch is covered by the transverse
scapular ligament. In some individuals the notch
may be covered by a fibrous or bony bridge, result-
ing in nerve compression [24]. Also, an accessory
ligament (50%) may be present anteroinferiorly
to the transverse scapular ligament, with the supra-
scapular nerve passing inferior to it. Hence signifi-
cant friction is exerted on the nerve in case of
sudden shoulder movements [25]. Of the supra-
scapular nerve, two motor branches are directed
to the supraspinatus fossa innervating the supraspi-
natus muscle, and two other motor branches are di-
rected to the infraspinatus fossa innervating the
infraspinatus muscle. Depending on the location
of compression, a particular type of compressive
neuropathy may result (Fig. 21). Labral cysts are
one such cause of nerve branch compression, and
may be easily diagnosed with MR imaging [26].
The quadrilateral space is located between the
humerus, triceps, teres minor, and teres major ten-
dons (see Fig. 18) [27]. The axillary nerve and pos- Fig. 21. Spinoglenoid notch often contains marked
terior humeral circumflex artery pass through this vascular structures (black circle) not to be confused
space and compression may occur here, especially with labral cysts.
Normal MR Imaging Anatomy of the Rotator Cuff 487
financially supported by Prijs Professor Dr. A. Baert, ligament complex of the shoulder. Am J Sports
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. Med 1990;18:449–56.
[15] Cooper DE, O’Brien SJ, Arnoczky SP, Warren RF.
The structure and function of the coracohumeral
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