Scapula
The scapula (shoulder bone, shoulder blade, wing bone) is a flat bone, triangular in shape. It is placed on a posterolateral aspect of the thoracic cage, ranging from the level of the second rib to the level of the seventh rib.
Scapula connects with the humerus (upper arm bone) in the glenohumeral (shoulder) joint and the clavicula (collar bone) in the acromioclavicular joint. There is no direct connection between the thoracic cage and scapula. It is held in place thanks to the surrounding muscles.
Main functions of the scapula are:
Being the origin and instertion of various muscles
Helping the movement of the upper limb (ventral flexion and abduction greater than 90°)
Protecting the thoracic cavity from the dorsal side
The name scapula comes from early Roman times, meaning a small shovel.
Borders
The three borders of the scapula are:
- Margo medialis
- Medial border, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spine
- Margo lateralis
- Lateral, or axillary border
- Margo superior
- Superior border
Angles
Borders of the scapula connect in three angles:
- Angulus superior
- Superior and medial border
- Angulus inferior
- Medial and lateral border
- Angulus lateralis
- Lateral and superior border
Surfaces
Dorsal surface
The back of the scapula is divided into two unequal parts by the spine of the scapula . The spine ends in a process called the acromion. The acromion forms the cavity of the glenohumeral joint.
The portion of the dorsal surface above the spine is called the supraspinous fossa. M. supraspinatus originates there.
The portion of the dorsal surface below the spine is called the infraspinous fossa. It is much larger than the supraspionous fossa. M. infraspinatus originates there.
Both muscles are parts of the rotator cuff, rotating the humerus and providing stability for the glenohumeral joint.
The coracoid process originates from the superior border.
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Ventral surface
The front of the scapula has a concavity called the subscapular fossa. M. subscapularis originates in the fossa.
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Lateral surface
The glenoid cavity can be found at the lateral angle. The acromion and the coracoid process make its top border.
Above and below the cavity, two tubercles serve as origins of muscles:
- Supraglenoid tubercle
- Origin of the long head of m. biceps brachii
- Infraglenoid tubercle
- Origin of the long head of m. triceps brachii
References
Scapula. Scapula [online]. [cit. 2019-11-09]. Dostupné z: https://www.wikiskripta.eu/w/Scapula
Scapula. In: Wikipedia: the free encyclopedia [online]. San Francisco (CA): Wikimedia Foundation, 2019 [cit. 2019-11-09]. Dostupné z: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scapula
HUDÁK, Radovan a David KACHLÍK. Memorix anatomie. 4. vydání. Praha: Triton, 2017. ISBN 978-80-7553-420-0.
ČIHÁK, Radomír. Anatomie. Třetí, upravené a doplněné vydání. Praha: Grada, 2016. ISBN 978-80-247-3817-8.
