| Capsule of the glenohumeral joint | |
|---|---|
 The capsule seen from the front | |
| Details | |
| Location | Shoulder joint |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | capsula articularis articularis humeri |
| Anatomical terminology | |
The capsule of the glenohumeral (shoulder) joint is the articular capsule of the shoulder. It completely surrounds the joint. It is attached above to the circumference of the glenoid cavity beyond the glenoidal labrum, and below to the anatomical neck of the humerus, approaching nearer to the articular cartilage above than in the rest of its extent.
It is thicker above and below than elsewhere, and is so remarkably loose and lax, that it has no action in keeping the bones in contact, but allows them to be separated from each other more than 2.5 cm, an evident provision for that extreme freedom of movement which is peculiar to this articulation.
It is strengthened, above, by the supraspinatus; below, by the long head of the triceps brachii; behind, by the tendons of the infraspinatus and teres minor; and in front, by the tendon of the subscapularis.