We studied the gross, histological, and vascular anatomy of the glenoid
labrum in twenty-three fresh-frozen shoulders from cadavera to demonstrate
its cross-sectional anatomy, its microvascularity, and its attachments. The
superior and anterosuperior portions of the labrum are loosely attached to
the glenoid, and the macro-anatomy of those portions is similar to that of
the meniscus of the knee. The superior portion of the labrum also
consistently inserts directly into the biceps tendon, while its inferior
portion is firmly attached to the glenoid rim and appears as a fibrous,
immobile extension of the articular cartilage. The arteries supplying the
periphery of the glenoid labrum come from the suprascapular, circumflex
scapular, and posterior circumflex humeral arteries. In general, the
superior and anterosuperior parts of the labrum have less vascularity than
do the posterosuperior and inferior parts, and the vascularity is limited
to the periphery of the labrum. Vessels supplying the labrum originate from
either capsular or periosteal vessels and not from the underlying bone.