Abstract:

Objective　To provide anatomical basis for diagnosis and treatment of subtendinous bursitis of latissimus dorsi.　Methods　20 adult cadaveric shoulder specimens (11 right shoulders and 9 left shoulders)  were dissected and observed for the latissimus dorsi tendon bursa and the neighboring anatomical structures that can be mistaken with latissimus dorsi tendon bursa.　Results　The latissimus dorsi tendon bursa was located among the lower end of the intertubercular sulcus, the lesser humeral tubercle and insertions ofteres major and latissimus dorsi tendon to the humerus. The humeral intertubecular sulcus can be divided into the sulcus between the crests of the lesser and greater tubercles and the sulcus between the lesser and greater tubercles. The latissimus dorsi tendon bursa can be located (27.43±4.71)mm inferior to the peak of the lesser tubercle and (8.12±1.23)mm lateral to the medial margin of the long head of the biceps brachii. The length of Latissimus dorsi tendon bursa was (36.5±4.79) mm in the sulcus between crests of the lesser and greater humeral tubercle; the width (8.62±1.83) mm at its midpoint. The structures around latissimus dorsi tendon bursa prone to inflammation included synovial sheath of the long head of biceps tendon, synovial bursae underneath the long head of the biceps brachii, the teres major, the coracoid process, bony channel of the pectoralis major, respectively.　Conclusion　This study provides a morphological basis for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of the subtendinous bursitis of latissimus dorsi.

Key words: Subtendinous bursa of the latissimus dorsi, Biceps tenosynovitis, Applied Anatomy