Costoclavicular ligament

Authors

Affiliations

Nathaniel Yomogida, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.S. in Kinesiology

Chloë Kerstein, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.A. in Neuroscience

The costoclavicular ligament is a passive stabilizer of the sternoclavicular joint

Anatomy

The costoclavicular ligament extends from the 1st rib cartilage to the costal tuberosity on the inferior aspect of the clavicle¹.

The ligament can be anatomically divided into 2 bundles:

1. Anterior bundle
2. Posterior bundle

The anterior bundle and posterior bundle run perpendicular to eachother¹. The anterior bundle runs obliquely in a superolateral direction, while the posterior bundle runs in a posteromedial direction¹.

Function

Since the fibers run in perpendicular directions, this allows the ligament as a whole to assist in stabilization of all sternoclavicular movements (elevation, protraction, retraction) except depression¹.

• Both the anterior and posterior bundles resist end range elevation¹.
• The anterior bundle resists elevation and retraction¹.
• The posterior bundle resists endrange elevation and protraction¹.

References

1.

Neumann DA, Kelly ER, Kiefer CL, Martens K, Grosz CM. Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System: Foundations for Rehabilitation. 3rd ed. Elsevier; 2017.