Shoulder Advance Imaging: Anatomical Notes

These notes provide a comprehensive overview of shoulder anatomy as seen through various advanced imaging planes, namely Coronal, Sagittal, and Axial views of Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging.

Coronal Plane View (Pages 2-13)

This view offers a perspective of the shoulder from front to back, allowing visualization of structures primarily in a superior-inferior and medial-lateral orientation.

• Key Muscles Identified:

  • Deltoid Muscle

  • Triceps Muscle

  • Infraspinatus Muscle

  • Latissimus Dorsi Muscle

  • Subscapularis Muscle

  • Serratus Anterior Muscle

  • Trapezius Muscle

  • Supraspinatus Muscle

  • Teres Minor Muscle

• Bony Structures and Landmarks:

  • HAR (Acronym consistently present in various views)

  • Spine of Scapula

  • Acromion

  • Clavicle

  • Coracoid Process

  • Humeral Head

  • Greater Tuberosity

  • Neck of Humerus

  • Shaft of Humerus

  • Glenoid (part of Scapula)

  • Scapula

• Ligaments and Tendons:

  • Subscapular Tendon

  • Biceps Anchor to Glenoid

  • Biceps Tendon

  • Coracoacromial Ligament

  • Supraspinatus Tendon

  • Infraspinatus Tendon

• Joints and Spaces:

  • Glenohumeral Joint

  • Axillary Pouch

• Other Structures:

  • Axillary Vessels and Nerve

  • Superior Glenoid Labrum

Sagittal Plane View (Pages 4, 16-17)

This view slices the shoulder from side to side, allowing for visualization of structures in an anterior-posterior and superior-inferior orientation.

• Key Muscles Identified:

  • Subscapularis Muscle

  • Deltoid Muscle

  • Trapezius Muscle

  • Serratus Anterior Muscle

  • Pectoralis Major Muscle

  • Pectoralis Minor Muscle

  • Supraspinatus Muscle

• Bony Structures and Landmarks:

  • HAR (Acronym)

  • Clavicle

  • Coracoid Process

  • Acromion

  • Spine of Scapula

  • Humeral Head

• Ligaments and Tendons:

  • Supraspinatus Tendon

  • AFL (Acronym consistently present)

• Other Structures:

  • Axillary Vessels

  • PHR (Acronym consistently present)

Axial Plane View (Pages 4, 14-20)

This view provides a cross-sectional perspective of the shoulder, moving from superior to inferior levels. It is akin to looking down into the shoulder.

• Scanning Methodology:

  • Examination starts from the top (superior aspect) of the shoulder and progresses inferiorly.

  • Provides a cross-sectional area of the shoulder.

  • The thickness of the slice depends on the scanner technology; generally, better technology allows for thinner scans, providing higher anatomical detail.

• Key Muscles Identified:

  • Subscapularis Muscle

  • Deltoid Muscle

  • Trapezius Muscle

  • Pectoralis Major Muscle

  • Pectoralis Minor Muscle

  • Coracobrachialis Muscle

  • Infraspinatus Muscle

  • Supraspinatus Muscle

• Bony Structures and Landmarks:

  • Humeral Head

  • Glenoid

  • Spine of Scapula

  • Coracoid Process

  • Acromioclavicular Joint

  • Clavicle

  • Lesser Tuberosity

  • Greater Tuberosity

  • Humerus

• Ligaments and Tendons:

  • Supraspinatus Tendon

  • Subscapularis Tendon

  • Biceps Tendon

  • AFL (Acronym)

• Other Structures:

  • Anterior Labrum

  • Posterior Labrum

  • Bicipital Groove

  • PHR (Acronym)