Anatomy
Upper Limb
A 16 year old hockey player presents to the ED after colliding with another player during training. She is tender over the right clavicle and you note a deformity at the sternoclavicular joint, you suspect a sternoclavicular joint dislocation. Which of the following ligaments is the most important in stabilising the sternoclavicular joint:
Answer:
The strong costoclavicular ligament joins the proximal end of the clavicle to the first rib and costal cartilage and is the main stabilising force for the joint.Sternoclavicular Joint
Anatomy / Upper Limb / Pectoral Region
Last Updated: 8th April 2019
Table: Anatomical Overview of the Sternoclavicular Joint
| Joint | Sternoclavicular joint |
|---|---|
| Type | Synovial saddle-shaped joint |
| Articulations | Proximal end of the clavicle; manubrium of sternum and first costal cartilage |
| Stabilisation | Joint capsule, anterior and posterior sternoclavicular ligaments, interclavicular ligament and costoclavicular ligament |
Joint Articulations
The sternoclavicular joint is a synovial saddle-shaped joint, occurring between the proximal end of the clavicle and the manubrium of the sternum and first costal cartilage.
Joint Ligaments
The sternoclavicular joint is surrounded by a joint capsule and reinforced by four ligaments; the anterior and posterior sternoclavicular ligaments, the interclavicular ligament and the costoclavicular ligament.
The strong costoclavicular ligament joins the proximal end of the clavicle to the first rib and costal cartilage and is the main stabilising force for the joint. Sternoclavicular joint dislocation is rare and requires significant force.
![by Henry Vandyke Carter [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons](https://mrcemsuccess.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Sternoclavicular-Joint.png)
Sternoclavicular Joint. (Image by Henry Vandyke Carter [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons)
Report A Problem
Is there something wrong with this question? Let us know and we’ll fix it as soon as possible.
Loading Form...
- Biochemistry
- Blood Gases
- Haematology
| Biochemistry | Normal Value |
|---|---|
| Sodium | 135 – 145 mmol/l |
| Potassium | 3.0 – 4.5 mmol/l |
| Urea | 2.5 – 7.5 mmol/l |
| Glucose | 3.5 – 5.0 mmol/l |
| Creatinine | 35 – 135 μmol/l |
| Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) | 5 – 35 U/l |
| Gamma-glutamyl Transferase (GGT) | < 65 U/l |
| Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) | 30 – 135 U/l |
| Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) | < 40 U/l |
| Total Protein | 60 – 80 g/l |
| Albumin | 35 – 50 g/l |
| Globulin | 2.4 – 3.5 g/dl |
| Amylase | < 70 U/l |
| Total Bilirubin | 3 – 17 μmol/l |
| Calcium | 2.1 – 2.5 mmol/l |
| Chloride | 95 – 105 mmol/l |
| Phosphate | 0.8 – 1.4 mmol/l |
| Haematology | Normal Value |
|---|---|
| Haemoglobin | 11.5 – 16.6 g/dl |
| White Blood Cells | 4.0 – 11.0 x 109/l |
| Platelets | 150 – 450 x 109/l |
| MCV | 80 – 96 fl |
| MCHC | 32 – 36 g/dl |
| Neutrophils | 2.0 – 7.5 x 109/l |
| Lymphocytes | 1.5 – 4.0 x 109/l |
| Monocytes | 0.3 – 1.0 x 109/l |
| Eosinophils | 0.1 – 0.5 x 109/l |
| Basophils | < 0.2 x 109/l |
| Reticulocytes | < 2% |
| Haematocrit | 0.35 – 0.49 |
| Red Cell Distribution Width | 11 – 15% |
| Blood Gases | Normal Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 7.35 – 7.45 |
| pO2 | 11 – 14 kPa |
| pCO2 | 4.5 – 6.0 kPa |
| Base Excess | -2 – +2 mmol/l |
| Bicarbonate | 24 – 30 mmol/l |
| Lactate | < 2 mmol/l |
