The acromion is the front edge of the shoulder blade or "roof" of the shoulder. It's the highest point of the shoulder blade and forms a bony arch over the rotator cuff and humeral head (top of arm bone).

The acromioclavicular joint is located at the tip of the shoulder where the acromion (shoulder blade) and collarbone (clavicle) come together.

In this procedure, a needle is inserted into a joint in order to remove fluid. Arthrocentesis is used for diagnosis as well as for treatment of shoulder problems.

In this procedure, medical dye is injected into the shoulder and an x-ray is taken of the area. This test is used in conjunction with an MRI to help identify a torn rotator cuff or labral tear.

Arthroscopic surgery is minimally invasive surgery. It uses a device called an arthroscope, a tiny, pen-shaped instrument that has a micro video camera attached to the end. The arthroscope is inserted through a small incision in the shoulder.

Arthrocentesis is the process of draining joint fluid. It involves inserting a needle under local anesthetic into the joint cavity and withdrawing fluid. The fluid is examined in the laboratory.

A Bankart lesion is a tear in the labrum, the fibrous tissue that circles the glenoid (shoulder socket). The labrum acts as a "rubber washer" to which the shoulder capsule attaches. Individuals who dislocate their shoulder often tear this "washer" off the socket.

The biceps is the large muscle at the front of the inner arm. It allows you to flex the arm.

Bone spurs (osteophytes) are abnormal accumulations of bone that occur when normally protective cartilage is missing, allowing bones to touch each other. Bone spurs also can occur where tendon/ligaments and bones meet.

Bursae (singular = bursa) are filmy, sac-like structures that allow bones, muscles and tendons to glide smoothly over each other. In the shoulder, the bursae are located between the rotator cuff tendons and the shoulder blade (acromion). They help cushion the rotator cuff from the boney front edge of the shoulder blade.

Cartilage is the rubbery, fibrous connective tissue found between bones. It allows joints to move smoothly.

These anti-inflammatory drugs may be injected into the shoulder area to reduce inflammation.

The glenohumeral joint is composed of the glenoid (socket), the humeral head (ball) and the capsule or ligaments that surround it. It allows the arm to move in many directions.

The glenoid is the "socket" of the shoulder blade (scapula). The humeral head or "ball" sits in the glenoid much like a golf ball sits on a tee. A rim of tissue called the labrum helps deepen its surface.

The humerus is the long arm bone located between the shoulder and elbow. The upper portion of the humerus (humeral head) is the "ball" at the top of the arm bone.

The labrum is a thick fibrous rim of tissue surrounding the glenoid or "socket" portion of the shoulder. It deepens the socket to provide more stability for the humeral head or "ball."

Ligaments are thick fibrous bands of tissue that link two or more bones together and frequently stabilize joints.

MRI is a special diagnostic study that uses strong magnetic fields to visualize bony and soft tissue structures. MRI creates images of bone, muscle, tendons, ligaments and all other soft tissues.

The meniscus is a disc of tissue between the ends of two bones that form a joint. In the shoulder, it's found between the end of the collarbone (clavicle) and the edge of the shoulder blade (acromion.)

Muscles are tissues composed of fibers that contract, allowing body parts to move. One of the most important shoulder muscles is the supraspinatus muscle — one of four rotator cuff muscles.

These medications help reduce pain, fever and inflammation.

An occupational therapist is a trained healthcare provider who develops customized treatment programs to improve a patient's ability to perform daily activities. They also provide home and job site evaluations with adaptation recommendations.

orthopaedic surgeon specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the body's bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons (musculoskeletal disorders.)

Paget's disease is a metabolic bone disorder of unknown origin that causes an increased and irregular bone formation. Eventually the deformed bone becomes larger, weaker and prone to fracture.

The orthopaedic surgeon specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the body's bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons (musculoskeletal disorders.)

The prognosis is the probable outcome of a disease. It refers to the likelihood of a patient's recovery.

Range of motion is the range or extent through which the body's torso, arms/legs and other appendages can move.

Resection is the surgical removal of tissue or part of an organ.

The rotator cuff is a muscle tendon unit composed of four muscles that attach the humeral head ("ball" of the upper arm bone) to the scapula (shoulder blade).

The scapula is the shoulder blade.

The scapulothoracic joint is located between the shoulder blade (scapula) and the back of five upper ribs. It allows the shoulder to move forward and backward.

This sac encloses and supports the shoulder joint. It is also called the articular capsule.

A SLAP lesion is an injury to the labrum, the fibrous rim of tissue surrounding the "socket" portion of the shoulder. SLAP describes how the tendon tears: Superior Labral tear from Anterior to Posterior.

The sternoclavicular joint is at the junction between the collarbone (clavicle) and breastbone (sternum). It anchors the shoulder to the wall of the chest.

Synovial fluid is a fluid produced by cells lining the joint capsule or synovium. This fluid lubricates the joint surfaces and provides cartilage with nutrients.

Synovitis occurs when synovium (inner layer of a joint capsule) is inflamed. It results in pain and loss of range of motion.

Your shoulder joints are held together by a "capsule" of tissues and ligaments. The innermost tissue of the capsule is a membrane called the synovium.

Tendons are cord-like structures made of collagen that connect muscles to bones.

TENS is a type of electrical stimulation therapy for certain kinds of pain. It produces a gentle current that stimulates muscles.