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Anatomy And Physiology Of Rotator Cuff Tendonitis

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Rotator Cuff Tendonitis

Abby Johnson
Mr. Mejewski
Anatomy and Physiology
Hour 4
What does a gardener, an athlete and a carpenter all have in common? Easy, they all have a higher risk of acquiring tendinitis in their shoulders, more specifically rotator cuff tendonitis. Shoulders are a very important component to the body, as they allow you to move your arms in any direction you choose. Seeing that rotator cuff tendinitis is very frequently diagnosed, I was interested to learn more about it and what makes it so common. A shoulder is one of the most complex joints of the body. The anatomy of the shoulder starts where the humerus fits into the scapula almost as if it were mimicking a ball and socket. The scapula has a little tip of itself overlooking the tendons of the shoulder called the acromion and a bit of itself fanning out, a part called the coracoid. Also connected to the scapula is the clavicle or collarbone. Another very important component to the shoulder is the rotator cuff, this is the most vital part to rotator cuff tendonitis. It is composed of four muscles and of various tendons that surround the shoulder socket that allow it to connect the upper arm and the shoulder blade together. Protecting the rotator cuff is is a small sac of fluid called a bursa. The humerus fits relatively loosely into the shoulder joint. This gives the shoulder a wide range of motion, but also makes it vulnerable to injury. In macroscopic detail, the shoulder looks

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