Anatomy, histology, and vascularity of the glenoid labrum. An anatomical study.

TLDR

The superior and anterosuperior labrum is loosely attached to the glenoid and resembles the knee meniscus in macro‑anatomy. The study aimed to characterize the gross, histological, and vascular anatomy of the glenoid labrum in 23 fresh‑frozen cadaveric shoulders. Using these specimens, the authors examined cross‑sectional anatomy, microvascularity, and attachments of the labrum. The superior labrum consistently inserts into the biceps tendon, the inferior labrum is firmly attached to the glenoid rim, and vascularity is limited to the periphery, with the superior and anterosuperior portions less vascular than the posterosuperior and inferior parts, supplied by suprascapular, circumflex scapular, and posterior circumflex humeral arteries originating from capsular or periosteal vessels rather than bone.

Abstract

We studied the gross, histological, and vascular anatomy of the glenoid labrum in twenty-three fresh-frozen shoulders from cadavera to demonstrate its cross-sectional anatomy, its microvascularity, and its attachments. The superior and anterosuperior portions of the labrum are loosely attached to the glenoid, and the macro-anatomy of those portions is similar to that of the meniscus of the knee. The superior portion of the labrum also consistently inserts directly into the biceps tendon, while its inferior portion is firmly attached to the glenoid rim and appears as a fibrous, immobile extension of the articular cartilage. The arteries supplying the periphery of the glenoid labrum come from the suprascapular, circumflex scapular, and posterior circumflex humeral arteries. In general, the superior and anterosuperior parts of the labrum have less vascularity than do the posterosuperior and inferior parts, and the vascularity is limited to the periphery of the labrum. Vessels supplying the labrum originate from either capsular or periosteal vessels and not from the underlying bone.