Human Osteology - Anatomy of the Scapula

By Matthew Law

The scapula is the better known as the shoulder blade, and is found on the upper back.

The scapula is very thin, and so is easily damaged. It is unusual to find an intact scapula.

The "blade" part is known as the body of the scapula

The spine of the scapula ends in a process called the acromion.

The notch at the top of the body is the suprascapular notch

Sometimes there is a hole (another non-metric trait).

The acromion has an articular surface for the clavicle.

The articulation for the head of the humerus is called the glenoid cavity. The width of the glenoid cavity is said to be sexually diamorphic, and the cavity survives well.

When positioning the bone, remember the spine must point outward.

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Last Modified 2008-01-19