The supraglenoid tubercle is a region of the

scapula The scapula (plural scapulae or scapulas), also known as the shoulder blade, is the bone that connects the humerus (upper arm bone) with the clavicle (collar bone). Like their connected bones, the scapulae are paired, with each scapula on eithe ...

from which the long head of the

biceps brachii The biceps or biceps brachii ( la, musculus biceps brachii, "two-headed muscle of the arm") is a large muscle that lies on the front of the upper arm between the shoulder and the elbow. Both heads of the muscle arise on the scapula and join t ...

muscle originates. It is a small, rough projection superior to the

glenoid cavity The glenoid fossa of the scapula or the glenoid cavity is a bone part of the shoulder. The word ''glenoid'' is pronounced or (both are common) and is from el, gléne, "socket", reflecting the shoulder joint's ball-and-socket form. It is a sh ...

near the base of the

coracoid process The coracoid process (from Greek κόραξ, raven) is a small hook-like structure on the lateral edge of the superior anterior portion of the scapula (hence: coracoid, or "like a raven's beak"). Pointing laterally forward, it, together with the ...

. The term supraglenoid is from the Latin ''supra,'' meaning above, and ''glenoid,'' meaning socket or cavity.

Clinical relevance

Biceps tendonitis

Biceps

tendonitis Tendinopathy, a type of tendon disorder that results in pain, swelling, and impaired function. The pain is typically worse with movement. It most commonly occurs around the shoulder (rotator cuff tendinitis, biceps tendinitis), elbow (tennis elb ...

originates on the long head of the biceps brachii at the supraglenoid tubercle in 30% of cases. The main symptom is generally anterior biceps instability, but the disease can also be characterized by chronic anterior

shoulder pain Shoulder problems including pain, are one of the more common reasons for physician visits for musculoskeletal symptoms. The shoulder is the most movable joint in the body. However, it is an unstable joint because of the range of motion allowed. ...

which radiates towards the lateral part of the

elbow The elbow is the region between the arm and the forearm that surrounds the elbow joint. The elbow includes prominent landmarks such as the olecranon, the cubital fossa (also called the chelidon, or the elbow pit), and the lateral and the m ...

. In cases of biceps tendinitis,

steroids A steroid is a biologically active organic compound with four rings arranged in a specific molecular configuration. Steroids have two principal biological functions: as important components of cell membranes that alter membrane fluidity; and ...

can be injected fluoroscopically at the supraglenoid tubercle to reduce pain associated with the pathology.

Avulsion

The supraglenoid tubercle ossifies separately from the rest of the scapula, so may not be as strong as the rest of the bone. It can be pulled off (

avulsed Avulsed is a Spanish death metal band, formed in August 1991 in Madrid by Dave Rotten (who also manages the Xtreem Music record label). Biography The band developed its musical style through various demos: ''Embalmed in Blood'' (1992), ''De ...

), often after an excessively strong contraction of the biceps brachii. This may also cause a fracture of the surrounding parts of the scapula, particularly the

. This may also occur in

horses The horse (''Equus ferus caballus'') is a domesticated, one-toed, hoofed mammal. It belongs to the taxonomic family Equidae and is one of two extant subspecies of ''Equus ferus''. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million ...

. This type of bone fracture is quite rare.

Additional images

File:Supraglenoid tubercle of left scapula - animation.gif, Position of supraglenoid tubercle (shown in red). left scapula. File:Supraglenoid tubercle of left scapula01.png, Still image. Left scapula, lateral view. File:Supraglenoid tubercle of scapula - animation02.gif, Position of supraglenoid tubercle (shown in red). Animation. File:Supraglenoid tubercle of scapula01.png, Still image.

References

External links