What is the glenohumeral joint commonly referred to as?

• A. Glenohumeral joint
• B. Elbow joint
• C. Shoulder joint
• D. Acromioclavicular joint

Answer: (C)

The main idea tested is the everyday name for the glenohumeral joint. The glenohumeral joint is the ball-and-socket connection between the head of the humerus and the glenoid cavity of the scapula. In common use, this is simply the shoulder joint. It’s the joint that allows the arm to move in many directions—forward and backward, to the side, and around rotationally—thanks to its ball-and-socket design and the surrounding muscles and ligaments. Other joints in the shoulder region have different names and roles (for example, the elbow is a separate hinge joint, and the acromioclavicular joint is where the clavicle meets the acromion), but the glenohumeral joint is what athletes and clinicians refer to as the shoulder joint.