Understanding the Shoulder. The human skeleton is an interesting mix of complexity and marvel. With perfection of a 360 degree movement, robotics has for long tried to replicate this mechanism and it has been successful, but not with the fluidity of the human body. The shoulder joint is the most flexible joint in the entire human body, it is formed by the amalgamation of the humerus, the scapula (or shoulder blade), and the clavicle (or collarbone). The shoulder is made up of two separate joints - the glenohumeral and acromioclavicular joints. Parts of the shoulder The shoulder structure is made up of many different parts which work together. The structure includes nerves, shoulder muscles, blood vessels, bursae, bones, joints, ligaments and tendons The Acromion - The top part of the shoulder blade. The Rotator cuff - The group of muscles and tendons that attach the arm bone to the shoulder blade which helps the shoulder to move. The Humeral Head - It is the top part of the arm, which is shaped like a ball and leans against the shoulder socket. The Cartilage - A smooth casing on the ends of the bones. It allows the bones to move without causing any pain. Humerus - The long bone in the upper arm, located between the elbow joint and the shoulder.
Clavicle - It is also known as the collarbone. It is the long bones that connect the scapula to the sternum. The Glenoid - A shallow socket that allows the arm to rotate in a circular manner. The capsule - The soft tissue that surrounds the glenohumeral joint. It is tough and flexible enough to keep the joint stable and allow it to move freely. The Synovium - lines the joint and produces a lubricating liquid called synovial fluid, it keeps the end of the bones from rubbing. Scapula - (Shoulder blade) is a triangular-shaped bone that connects the humerus (upper arm bone) with the clavicle (collar bone) People in risk of shoulder injuries There is no specific age group, race or ethnic group that suffers from shoulder ailments, shoulder problems can happen to anyone. Causes of shoulder injury can be due to external factors like accidents or physical activity related accidents, or in some cases hereditary due to poor bone health history of close family members. Most common shoulder injuries The most common shoulder ailments are dislocation, separation, rotar cuff disease, rotar cuff tear, frozen shoulder, arthritis and fracture. Often, an orthopedic surgeon will prescribe a series of exercises aimed at strengthening the shoulder muscles for minor complications but if the injury is serious then the patient will have to undergo surgery. Most individuals can continue to lead fulfilling and non restricting life after shoulder surgery.