Costoclavicular ligament

Authors

Affiliations

Nate Yomogida, PT, DPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.S. in Kinesiology

Chloë Kerstein, PT, DPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.A. in Neuroscience

Figure 1: Sternoclavicular joint (Anterior view)¹

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 clavicle².

The ligament can be anatomically divided into 2 bundles:

1. Anterior bundle
2. Posterior bundle

The anterior bundle and posterior bundle run perpendicular to eachother². The anterior bundle runs obliquely in a superolateral direction, while the posterior bundle runs in a posteromedial direction².

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 depression².

• Both the anterior and posterior bundles resist end range elevation².
• The anterior bundle resists elevation and retraction².
• The posterior bundle resists endrange elevation and protraction².

References

1.

Gray H. Anatomy of the Human Body. 20th ed. (Lewis WH, ed.). Lea & Febiger; 1918. https://www.bartleby.com/107/

2.

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