Abstract
The rotator cuff is comprised of the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis, and teres minor muscles and tendons. The four muscles of the rotator cuff act as stabilizers of the glenohumeral joint. The rotator interval, the triangular shaped region demarcated by the coracoid process medially and the converging margins of the supraspinatus and subscapularis tendons laterally, contains several structures important for the stability and proper biomechanical functioning of the shoulder. The majority of rotator cuff pathology is secondary to impingement combined with tendon vascular insufficiency, aging and/or metabolic conditions. There are two types of impingement, external and internal impingement syndromes. External impingement syndromes include subacromial and subcoracoid impingement. Internal impingement syndromes include both posterosuperior and anterosuperior impingement. Impingement of cuff tendons lead to tendinosis, partial and full thickness tears, tendon retraction and muscle fatty atrophy. When describing rotator cuff tears there are a number of features that need to be described: the size, retraction, tear shape, and status of the muscle.
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Abreu, M.R., Recht, M. (2017). MR Imaging of the Rotator Cuff and Rotator Interval. In: Hodler, J., Kubik-Huch, R., von Schulthess, G. (eds) Musculoskeletal Diseases 2017-2020. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54018-4_19
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54018-4_19
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