Session 7: Osteology of the Scapula, Clavicle and Proximal Humerus Flashcards
What type of bone is the scapula?
Irregular bone
What does the scapula articulate with?
Humerus at the glenohumeral joint
Clavicle at the acromioclavicular joint
What is the subscapular fossa?
A large concave depression on the anterior surface of the scapula.
What muscle originates from the subscapular fossa?
Subscapularis
What is the coracoid process?
Which muscles originate and insert here?
A hook-like projection which can be found at the superolateral surface of the scapula.
Origination: short head of the biceps brachii
Insertion: pectoralis minor, coracobrachialis
Describe the glenoid fossa.
What does it articulate with?
Shallow cavity, superior on the lateral border.
Articulates with the head of the humerus to form the glenohumeral joint.
Describe the supraglenoid tubercle.
What muscle originates from here?
Roughening which is superior to the glenoid fossa.
Long head of biceps brachii originate here.
Describe the infraglenoid tubercle.
What muscle originates here?
Roughening which is inferior to the glenoid fossa.
Long head of the triceps brachii originate here.
There are some important bony landmarks of the scapula. Describe the spine of the scapula.
The most prominent feature of the posterior scapula which runs transversely across the scapula.
Describe the acromion.
What does it articulate with?
A large projection arising from the lateral end of the scapula spine.
The acromion arches laterally over the glenohumeral joint and articulates with the clavicle at the acromioclavicular joint.
Describe the infraspinous fossa.
What muscle originates here?
A depression found below the spine of the scapula.
Origination of infraspinatus.
Describe the supraspinous fossa.
What muscle originates here?
A depression located above the spine of the scapula.
Smaller than the infraspinous fossa and more convex as well.
Origination of supraspinatus.
What are the joints of the scapula?
Glenohumeral joint between the glenoid fossa and the head of the humerus.
Acromioclavicular joint between the acromion and the clavicle.
What is the scapulathoracic joint.
An articulation between the anterior surface of the scapula and the rib cage which cannot be classified as a joint.
It is an articulation of the scapula with thorax that depends on the integrity of the acromioclaviuclar and sternoclavicular joint.
Clavicle.
Type and three main functions.
Long bone.
Attaches the upper limb to the trunk.
Protects the underlying neuromuscular structures supply the upper limb.
Transmits force from the upper limb to the axial skeleton.
Structure of the clavicle.
A long bone with a slight ‘S’ shape.
The medial aspect is convex anteriorly and the lateral aspect is concave anteriorly.
The medial end is called the sternal end and the lateral end is the acromial end.
Between the ends is the shaft.
Insertion and origins of muscle on the clavicle.
Insertion of:
Trapezius (anterior surface of the acromial end)
Subclavius muscle (in middle of the shaft at the superior surface)
Origination of: Deltoid muscle (posterior surface of the acromial end) Pectoralis major (posterior surface of the middle to sternal end) Sternocleidomastoid muscle at the superior surface of the sternal end) Sternohyoid muscle (posterior surface oft the sternal end).
What does the acromial end of the clavicle articulate with?
The acromion of the scapula at the acromioclavicular joint.
What does the sternal end of the clavicle articulate with?
The sternum at the sternoclavicular joint.
What two ligaments attach at the acromial end of the clavicle?
The conoid ligament which attach at the conoid tubercle of the clavicle and the coracoid process.
The trapezoid ligament which attach at the trapezoid line of the clavicle and the coracoid process.
What are the conoid ligament and the trapezoid ligament collectively known as?
What is its main function?
The coracoclavicular ligament.
To effectively suspend the weight of the upper limb from the clavicle.
What type of joint is the acromioclavicular joint?
A plane-type synovial joint.
Where can the acromioclavicular joint be palpated?
Approx. 2-3 cm medially from the tip of the shoulder.
What are the two atypical features of the acromioclavicular joint?
The articular surfaces of the joint are lined with fibrocartilage instead of hyaline cartilage which is usually found in a synovial joint.
The joint cavity is partially divided by an articular disc. This is a wedge of fibrocartilage that is suspended from the upper part of the capsule.
What is the acromioclavicular joint reinforced by?
A loose fibrous layer which encloses the two articular surfaces.
The posterior aspect of the joint capsule is reinforced by fibres from the trapezius muscle as well.
What are the three main ligaments that strengthen the acromioclavicular joint?
Intrinsic:
Acromioclavicular ligament which runs horizontally from the acromion to the lateral clavicle. Lies superficial to the joint capsule and reinforce the superior aspect.
Extrinsic:
Conoid ligament which runs vertically from the coracoid process of the scapula to the conoid tubercle of the clavicle.
Trapezoid ligament which runs from the coracoid process of the scapula to the trapezoid line of the clavicle.
What movements does the acromioclavicular joint allow?
A small degree of axial rotation and anteroposterior movement.
Where can the sternoclavicular joint be found?
Between the sternal end of the clavicle and the manubrium of the sternum. It is the only attachment of the upper limb to the axial skeleton so its very strong.
What type of joint is the sternoclavicular joint?
A saddle-type synovial joint.
What atypical feature does the sternoclavicular joint have?
The articular surfaces are covered with fibrocartilage.
The sternoclavicular joint is separated into two compartments by a fibrocartilaginous articular disc. Why is this important?
It allows the clavicle and the manubrium to slide over each other more freely to allow rotation and movement in a third axis.