Shoulder Anatomy

shoulder anatomy- healthy shoulder, Bone and Joint Specialists

The healthy shoulder is a complex structure of bones, muscles, ligaments (connect bone to bone), tendons (connect muscle to bone), and cartilage. The bones that form the shoulder joint are the humerus (upper arm bone) and the scapula (shoulder blade). The top end of the humerus has a large round surface called the humeral head, which rides against the scapula in a small socket called the glenoid. Think of this connection as a golf ball on a tee. The limited contact area is what allows near unlimited range of motion in a healthy shoulder.

The humeral head and the glenoid are covered with a cushioning tissue called cartilage. Cartilage is a tough lubricating tissue that allows the bones to painlessly glide against each other. The shoulder joint is encapsulated by a group of muscles and ligaments called the rotator cuff. The rotator cuff helps stabilize the shoulder joint and provide movement.

Links to Orthopedic Shoulder Education

Links are provided from the Orthopaedic connection website of American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

All patient education materials are provided by OrthoPatientEd.com and have been reviewed by our Advisory Board of leading Orthopedic Surgeons to ensure accuracy. All materials are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for medical advice from your orthopedic surgeon. Any medical decisions should be made after consulting a qualified physician.

This site includes links to other websites. OrthoPatientEd.com takes no responsibility for the content or information contained in the linked sites.

Orthopaedic Associates of Marlborough

  • Contact: contactus@orthomarlborough.com
    Billing: billingdept@orthomarlborough.com

Monday 8:00am - 7:00pm
Tuesday 8:00am - 8:00pm
Wednesday 7:00am - 5:00pm
Thursday 8:00am - 5:00pm
Friday 7:30am - 11:00am

The office is generally closed for lunch from 12-1 daily.
*Office hours are subject to change without notice.

  • Marlborough Location
    Marlborough Medical Building

    65 Fremont Street | Marlborough, MA 01752
    Telephone: 508-485-3665 | Fax: 508-485-0899

  • Northborough Location
    Carewell Urgent Care Building

    333 Southwest Cutoff | Northborough, MA 01532
    Telephone: 508-485-3665
    Appointments call UMASS scheduling: 855-862-7763

  • Westborough Location
    UMass Memorial Orthopedics

    154 East Main Street | Westborough, MA 01581
    Telephone: 508-485-3665
    Appointments call UMASS scheduling: 855-862-7763

ORTHOPEDIC SERVICES

Make An Appointment

To schedule an appointment, please call (508) 485-3665 OR Make an Appointment Request online.

We are currently accepting new patients and referrals.