Õlalülide

Õlalülide is the Estonian term used to describe the joints of the shoulder region that connect the upper limb to the trunk and enable the wide range of shoulder movement. The shoulder girdle contains three main articulations: the sternoklavikulaarne liiges (sternoclavicular joint), the acromioklavikulaarne liiges (acromioclavicular joint), and the glenohumeral liiges (glenohumeral joint). In addition, the scapulothoracal articulation—where the scapula slides over the thoracic wall—acts as a functional joint that contributes to shoulder motion, though it is not a true synovial joint.

The sternoclavicular joint links the clavicle with the sternum and allows elevation, depression, protraction, retraction, and rotation of the clavicle, contributing to overall arm elevation. The acromioclavicular joint connects the clavicle to the acromion of the scapula and permits small gliding movements; it works with the sternoclavicular joint to enable full arm lifting. The glenohumeral joint is the ball-and-socket joint between the humeral head and the glenoid cavity of the scapula, providing the greatest range of motion of any human joint, while relying on soft-tissue stabilizers for stability.

Stabilization comes from the rotator cuff muscles, the glenoid labrum, and several ligaments, including the coracoclavicular and coracoacromial ligaments. Clinical concerns involving the shoulder lüli include acromioclavicular separation, sternoclavicular dislocation, rotator cuff tears, and multidirectional instability. Innervation is primarily from nerves of the brachial plexus (notably the axillary and suprascapular nerves), and the region receives blood supply from branches such as the suprascapular and thoracoacromial arteries.