Middle Glenohumeral Ligament

Description

(A) Schematic illustration of the anterior ligaments of the shoulder. SGHL: superior glenohumeral ligament, MGHL: middle glenohumeral ligament, IGHL: anterior band of the inferior glenohumeral ligament, spiral GHL: spiral glenohumeral ligament. (B) Sagittal oblique MR arthrogram image shows the fasciculus obliquus (thick white arrows, B), the frenula capsulae (synovial bands) (thin white arrows, B) and the middle glenohumeral ligament (black arrows, B).

A typical shoulder joint with the superior, middle and anterior-band of the inferior glenohumeral ligament (SGHL, MGHL and AB-IGHL) insertion areas shown. The posterior-band of the inferior glenohumeral ligament (PB-IGHL) is not shown for clarity.

Name

• Middle Glenohumeral Ligament
• MGHL
• Middle Glenohumeral Band
• Ligamentum Glenohumerale Medium

Gross Anatomy

• Part of the Glenohumeral Ligament Complex
• Origin: anterosuperior glenoid (just inferior to the superior GHL)
• Insert: anterior proximal humerus at the base of the lesser tubercle (below the superior GHL attachment)

Function

• Reinforces the anterior part of the glenohumeral joint capsule
• Provides anterior stability to the head of the humerus during abduction between 45° and 60° in the scapular plane

Anatomic Variant

• Middle GHL is variable in size and appearance 1 and absent in 30%
• Forms part of the Buford complex

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Clinical Significance

• Glenohumeral Instability
• Glenohumeral Dislocation

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See Also

• Physical Exam Shoulder
• Shoulder Anatomy (Main)
• Shoulder Pain (Main)

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