The labrum (shoulder and hip)A labrum is a type of cartilage found both in the shoulder joint and between the pelvis and femur (shoulder: torn labrum, Palo Alto Medical Foundation).The labrum has two fundamental functions that take place in both the hip and the shoulder. The first function of the lip is to hollow out the socket so that the ball remains fixed. Ligaments are small structures that keep the ball in the socket; these are the slings that reach and attach each of the bones. These small structures hold bones closer together. The other way the ball is held inside and attached to the socket is the lip. The labrum is a thick tissue or type of cartilage attached to the edge of the orbit and essentially forms a comfort cushion between the two bones. This is what then deepens the socket and helps keep the ball in place (shoulder joint injury - glenoid labrum injury, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons). Sometimes, in individuals where the labrum is too small, torn due to injury or overuse, the ball may slip partially or completely out of the socket. In this case it would be a shoulder dislocation. The labrum goes around the socket and in most areas is firmly and securely attached to the bone within the socket. In some areas the labrum is not tightly attached, and doctors have only recently identified which parts are normal and which parts directly reflect labral tearing (A Patients Guide to Labral Tears, Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine). Tearing your labrum is a very easy and painful thing to do. The second function of the labrum is to serve as an attachment to other structures or tissues around the joint. Therefore, the ligaments that help bind the joint… middle of the paper… the muscles; the subscapularis, teres minor, infraspinatus and supraspinatus. When the ball of the humerus encounters a strong blow against the socket of the glenoid during activity, it begins to rub against the labrum and causes it to slowly tear. This can occur through many different types of physical activities, such as throwing and swinging. It can also occur if the shoulder dislocates during physical activity. Athletes who throw weights or weight lifters may experience glenoid labrum injuries due to repetitive rotational motion of the shoulder. A labral tear can occur during sporting activity or in normal daily life. Swinging, lifting, throwing and catching movements often cause these types of symptoms. The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint where the arm meets the body. A part of the scapula, called the glenoid, forms the shoulder socket.