Shoulder (MRI)
Learning objectives
Going through this study unit will help you to:
- Identify proton density (PD)-weighted MR images.
- Learn the most important structures of the shoulder region, including the shoulder joint and its associated structures
Explore MRI scan
The evaluation of the shoulder joint and the surrounding soft tissue structures is best done with an MRI. The Proton Density (PD) modality remains one of supreme MRI sequences for the assessment of the musculoskeletal system.
On PD-weighted images, the bones show as very light gray or nearly white, while the ligaments and cavities appear as black. Let’s analyze the normal shoulder MRI through several levels:
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You can study each structure individually with the following gallery:
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/trapezius-muscle-36/7ZNFOzOVz4DVabY0fLjQAw_RackMultipart20180311-17096-rfo3fe.png "Trapezius muscle (Musculus trapezius); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/acromioclavicular-joint-4/h0SoW1MpX32RhzmTFdA_RackMultipart20180311-17096-12fsyjj.png "Acromioclavicular joint (Articulatio acromioclavicularis); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/clavicle-21/GxqwL65lvZi34o2aIzKag_RackMultipart20180311-17096-1qg9d1s.png "Clavicle (Clavicula); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/acromion-6/yDKwUNjqIMFazd0UyprFw_RackMultipart20180311-17096-1qjxuu4.png "Acromion of scapula (Acromion scapulae); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/supraspinatus-muscle-8/sGPODrFB7J567TcqtPEfAA_RackMultipart20180311-17105-b05zzo.png "Supraspinatus muscle (Musculus supraspinatus); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/spine-of-the-scapula-6/QeTJtER0QxqgFXYFujwA_RackMultipart20180311-17105-15nt96k.png "Spine of scapula (Spina scapulae); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/conoid-ligament/2gAB76ek8kl0acjWiv8DbA_Conoid_ligament.png "Conoid ligament (Ligamentum conoideum); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/tendon-of-supraspinatus-muscle-2/VQpNvVOSRFiPnkI31hrrQ_RackMultipart20180311-17105-tt1xkx.png "Tendon of supraspinatus muscle (Tendo musculi supraspinati); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/scapula-23/1sdtQenftR5CDMLor9Q9Eg_RackMultipart20180311-17116-d70me0.png "Scapula; Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/coracoid-process-6/SRaf3upcw3uX2XMZ3C61MQ_RackMultipart20180311-17116-1b3aarm.png "Coracoid process of scapula (Processus coracoideus scapulae); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/tendon-of-infraspinatus-muscle/PQcc2fEFPG7VjXut8wEBPw_Tendon_of_infraspinatus_muscle.png "Tendon of infraspinatus muscle (Tendo musculi infraspinati); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/head-of-the-humerus-5/CZbbHszXTHlgfnZTr31eg_RackMultipart20180311-17116-1ef45cq.png "Head of humerus (Caput humeri); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/glenoid-labrum-of-scapula-1/GP6fsxLthAF30Zgqhcf8MA_RackMultipart20180311-17109-1oauxwg.png "Glenoid labrum of scapula (Labrum glenoidale scapulae); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/infraspinatus-muscle-14/qbp9K7KFfPcu5uuES6fogQ_RackMultipart20180311-17109-10ru7cx.png "Infraspinatus muscle (Musculus infraspinatus); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/suprascapular-nerve-4/DrdxXZLXDDhxFTlwgWzjBQ_RackMultipart20180311-17109-1fna40e.png "Suprascapular nerve (Nervus suprascapularis); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/glenoid-cavity-4/6eIWUlkKCHdFb0FvdRou0Q_RackMultipart20180311-17109-1exmn6x.png "Glenoid fossa of scapula (Fossa glenoidalis scapulae); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/subscapularis-muscle-18/L8Jz2GhDTwVdsYPcLbnRA_RackMultipart20180311-17109-zokj0k.png "Subscapularis muscle (Musculus subscapularis); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/tendon-of-teres-minor-muscle/B5TGzkMdUsR7dd4iw6uMxA_Tendon_of_teres_minor_muscle.png "Tendon of teres minor muscle (Tendo musculi teretis minoris); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/tendon-of-subscapularis-muscle-2/W3b5HsEVeCcmq77LxkdiRg_RackMultipart20180311-17109-777a8i.png "Tendon of subscapularis muscle (Tendo musculi subscapularis); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/deltoid-muscle-15/IAqEvkgYKtQ7lxw2qnew_RackMultipart20180311-17105-15d8jh2.png "Deltoid muscle (Musculus deltoideus); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/glenohumeral-ligament-4/ybKqspkyFB8WKVmDhXTrQA_RackMultipart20180311-17105-1yminxi.png "Glenohumeral ligaments (Ligamenta glenohumeralia); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/brachial-plexus-13/bRBGLraicOVKPB4BfvWIdw_RackMultipart20180311-17105-qipo78.png "Brachial plexus (Plexus brachialis); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/tendon-of-long-head-of-biceps-brachii-muscle-5/zo1BtcZApVGaWWW8cC3l0A_RackMultipart20180311-17105-1a202pu.png "Tendon of long head of biceps brachii muscle (Tendo capitis longi musculi bicipitis brachii); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/intertubercular-sulcus-2/irlKuSXHlwG28vDoHNpQ_RackMultipart20180311-17105-sn35l6.png "Intertubercular sulcus of humerus (Sulcus intertubercularis humeri); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/lesser-tubercle-2/zPZBw120GcGQlWd0Cc8esg_RackMultipart20180311-17105-1fm1uof.png "Lesser tubercle of humerus (Tuberculum minus humeri); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/tendon-of-short-head-of-biceps-brachii-muscle-1/aalVXC6RSAoORFKTDU0Q_RackMultipart20180311-17074-8uco0w.png "Tendon of short head of biceps brachii muscle (Tendo capitis brevis musculi bicipitis brachii); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/coracobrachialis-muscle-10/VnfEi5YCE4N0BojMMPfMsQ_RackMultipart20180311-17074-h6p2bc.png "Coracobrachialis muscle (Musculus coracobrachialis); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/teres-minor-muscle-8/elqoitB6OrgwA9FHGhTvHQ_RackMultipart20180311-17074-12vfh1i.png "Teres minor muscle (Musculus teres minor); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/axillary-vein-10/Gq7pKuEEAgntstYHTzGBbQ_RackMultipart20180311-17074-3jcux0.png "Axillary vein (Vena axillaris); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/axillary-artery-9/jVziuniJ7pD4AVlaY6Vg_RackMultipart20180311-17074-1cdit55.png "Axillary artery (Arteria axillaris); Image:"){kind=logo}
Trapezius muscle
Musculus trapezius
1/30
Synonyms:
none
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