Glenoide

Glenoide, also called glenoid or glenoid cavity, is the shallow articular surface of the scapula that forms the socket of the shoulder joint (the glenohumeral joint). It is located on the lateral aspect of the scapula and faces laterally, forward, and slightly upward. The rim of the glenoid is deepened by a fibrocartilaginous rim called the glenoid labrum, which widens the articular surface and helps stabilize the joint.

The surface of the glenoid is covered by articular cartilage and is relatively shallow, which contributes to the shoulder’s wide range of motion but relies on surrounding soft tissues for stability. Stabilization is provided by the glenohumeral ligaments, the coracohumeral ligament, the joint capsule, and the rotator cuff muscles (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis). The labrum also serves as an attachment site for ligaments and the joint capsule, enhancing depth and stability.

Clinically significant glenoid pathology includes labral tears (such as SLAP lesions), and bony defects of the glenoid rim (e.g., Bankart lesions) following dislocations. Glenoid version and depth can influence joint stability and the risk of osteoarthritis. Imaging techniques such as X-ray, CT, and MRI (often with 3D reconstructions) aid in assessment and surgical planning.

Management options range from nonoperative treatment to procedures addressing bone and soft-tissue stability. Arthroscopic or open Bankart repair restores soft-tissue stability, while procedures like the Latarjet augment the glenoid rim. Advanced disease may require shoulder arthroplasty. The glenoid remains a central landmark in shoulder anatomy and surgical design.