Scapula (Scapula)
Educational content only — not medical advice.
Anatomy
A flat triangular bone floating on the back of the ribcage, suspended almost entirely by muscle. Its glenoid cavity is the socket for the humeral head, and it projects the acromion and coracoid processes.
Clinical notes
Its fractures are relatively rare and usually signal high-energy trauma; its free gliding over the ribcage is what gives the shoulder its wide range.
Related structures
Educational references
FAQ
What is the role of the Scapula?
A flat triangular bone floating on the back of the ribcage, suspended almost entirely by muscle. Its glenoid cavity is the socket for the humeral head, and it projects the acromion and coracoid processes.
Why is the Scapula clinically important?
Its fractures are relatively rare and usually signal high-energy trauma; its free gliding over the ribcage is what gives the shoulder its wide range.
Source & license
Derived from Z-Anatomy (Gauthier Kervyn et al.), CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/); upstream geometry from BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science. license details