Shoulder Anatomy

The shoulder joint is considered one of the most complex joints in the body. It consists of three bones – the scapula (shoulder blade socket), clavicle (collar bone) and humerus (upper arm bone).

The shoulder joint is unique in that the ball of the upper arm bone is two times larger than the socket of the shoulder blade. This creates a very mobile joint, but it demands an extensive array of ligaments and muscles to keep the joint together.

Anatomy of a shoulder

Last Updated: 08/23/2007

 

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