Superior 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

• Superior Glenohumeral Ligament
• Ligamentum glenohumerale superius

SGHL

• Superior glenohumeral capsular ligament

Gross Anatomy

• Part of the Glenohumeral Ligament Complex
• Origin: superior aspect of the glenoid and supraglenoid tubercle, coracoid process
• Insert: superior part of the lesser tubercle of the humerus at the medial edge of the intertubercular fossa
• Fibers are initially oriented anteriorly, then anteroinferior along the long head of the biceps tendon
• Stabilizes the biceps brachii tendon
• Lies above the subscapularis recess

Function

• Reinforces the glenohumeral joint capsule, particularly anterior
• Helps suspend the humeral head along with the coracohumeral ligament

Variant Anatomy

• Superior GHL is almost always present (97% ref), has variable origin
• Arises with biceps brachii tendon
• Arises with middle GHL
• May be thickened in the setting of an absent/hypoplastic middle GHL
• May be absent in the setting of a 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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