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Shoulder SLAP Tear

Picture of a shoulder SLAP tear

A SLAP tear is an injury to a piece of shoulder cartilage called the labrum. This cartilage surrounds the shoulder socket, helping to keep it stable when you move. Your arm muscle (biceps) is attached to your shoulder by a biceps tendon. This tendon connects your biceps to the labrum at the top of the shoulder joint. A SLAP tear happens when the labrum is damaged where the biceps tendon is attached.

This picture shows one type of SLAP tear. SLAP stands for Superior Labrum Anterior to Posterior.

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer David Messenger, MD
Last Revised July 6, 2011

Last Revised: July 6, 2011

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & David Messenger, MD

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