Shouldering the Burden - a Quiz about Shoulders

Answer: Ball and Socket

The shoulder's extraordinary range of movement is only possible because it is a ball and socket joint. These joints are where the rounded head of one bone fits into a rounded cup shaped depression in another. In the human body the ball and socket joints are in the shoulders, where the head of the humerus fits into the glenoid cavity of the scapula, kept in place by the muscles of the rotator cuff, and in the pelvis, where the head of the femur fits into the acetabulum of the hip bone.

Answer: 1893

In 1893, a French surgeon named Jules Péan attempted to replace part of a shoulder affected by tuberculosis. His patient was a baker, and the prosthesis was made from rubber and platinum.The new joint lasted about two years and greatly improved the patient's range of movement, but infection set in and it had to be removed.

The development of modern shoulder replacements didn't begin until the 1950s. The operation became more common from the 1970s onwards, but it wasn't until the 1990s that they became really successful, when techniques were improved.

Answer: Doing weights in the gym

Most shoulder injuries will respond to rest, icing and painkillers. If this doesn't work then physiotherapy or steroid injections might be the answer. But hitting the gym is probably just going to make things worse.

Answer: Part of the shoulder blade

The coracoid process is a thick, curved, bone that projects from the scapula (shoulder blade). It looks a bit like a raven's beak, which is where it gets its name, as 'Coronis' is Greek for raven or crow. Many muscles and ligaments are attached to it.

Answer: four

The shoulder in fact contains four joints. The joints of the shoulder are located around the sternum (breastbone), the clavicle (collar bone) and the scapula (shoulder blade), with the main one being the ball and socket joint which holds the head of the humerus.
The clavicle, scapula and humerus, together with muscles, tendons and ligaments, form what is called the shoulder girdle, which allows the joints to move.

Answer: It's where the shoulder blade meets the ribs

The scapulothoracic joint is where the shoulder blade meets the ribs. The ribs form the thoracic cage which surround the heart and lungs, and it is attached to the vertebral column.

Answer: Glenohumeral joint

The glenohumeral joint is where the humerus (upper arm bone) meets the glenoid - the socket in which it sits.

The acromioclavicular joint is where the acromium meets the collar bone (clavicle). The acromium is the highest point of the shoulder.
The sternoclavicular joint is where the clavicle meets the sternum (breast bone).

I invented the acciohumeral joint!

Answer: They only show bones

Many shoulder injuries involve muscles, tendons or cartilage. Unfortunately none of these is visible on an x-ray! Consequently, if your shoulder is injured you will very likely be sent for an ultrasound or MRI scan.

Answer: To move the arm sideways away from the body

The shoulder has a number of tendons, all of which have their own specific functions.

Tendons are extensions of the muscles, and they attach the muscles to the bones. The muscles pull on the tendons and this is how they move the bones.

Answer: Atlas

In Ancient Greek mythology Atlas was compelled to carry the heavens on his shoulders after losing a battle with Zeus (the chief Greek god).

Jupiter is a Roman god.

Hercules, another figure from Greek mythology, had to do a lot of different things but this wasn't one of them!

This is, of course, not strictly speaking a biology question, but you can bet that Atlas would have needed to see a physiotherapist about his shoulder problems.