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Role of the Biceps Tendon as a Humeral Head Depressor

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The Management of Biceps Pathology

Abstract

The long head of the biceps tendon (LHBT) originates from the supraglenoid tubercle and superior labrum and proceeds through the bicipital groove on the anterior aspect of the shoulder occupying a proximal intra-articular position within the glenohumeral joint. This unique anatomy and the location of the LHBT support its function as a humeral head depressor and a position-dependent glenohumeral joint stabilizer. From a functional perspective, the evidence for the LHBT being a humeral head depressor and glenohumeral stabilizer has been demonstrated in both in vitro biomechanical studies and in vivo EMG studies. When the muscles are activated, the LHBT increases glenohumeral joint concavity compression and the barrier effects to stabilize the glenohumeral joint. However, it is also important to recognize that even if the biceps muscle is not activated, the LHBT in a passive state still contributes to glenohumeral joint stability through barrier effects of the soft tissue alone. Therefore, the function of the LHBT as a humeral head depressor and position-dependent glenohumeral stabilizer is dependent on the level of tension provided through biceps muscle activation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Congress Medical Foundation, Pasadena, CA, USA

    Rishi Garg, Seth M. Boydstun, Barry I. Shafer, Michelle H. McGarry, Gregory J. Adamson & Thay Q. Lee

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  1. Rishi Garg
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  2. Seth M. Boydstun
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  3. Barry I. Shafer
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  4. Michelle H. McGarry
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  5. Gregory J. Adamson
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  6. Thay Q. Lee
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Correspondence to Thay Q. Lee .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Sports Medicine, DuPage Medical Group, DuPage, IL, USA

    Anthony A. Romeo

  2. Division of Sports Medicine, Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, New York, NY, USA

    Brandon J. Erickson

  3. Eastern Virginia Medical School Surgery & Sports Medicine Jordan-Young Institute for Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine, Virginia Beach, VA, USA

    Justin W. Griffin

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Garg, R., Boydstun, S.M., Shafer, B.I., McGarry, M.H., Adamson, G.J., Lee, T.Q. (2021). Role of the Biceps Tendon as a Humeral Head Depressor. In: Romeo, A.A., Erickson, B.J., Griffin, J.W. (eds) The Management of Biceps Pathology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63019-5_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63019-5_5

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