Table of Contents
Illustrations
Movements
The scapula moves freely across the rib cage, allowing the arm to position itself in space. Its primary motions are summarized below.
- Depression
- Lowering the shoulder blade away from the ears.
- Ring or bar dip: driving your shoulders downward as you lower your body.
- Lower 💪 Trapezius, 💪 Pectoralis Minor, 💪 Latissimus Dorsi
- Ring or bar dip: driving your shoulders downward as you lower your body.
- Elevation
- Raising the shoulder blade toward the ears.
- Dumbbell shrug: lifting your shoulders straight up toward your ears.
- Upper 💪 Trapezius, Levator Scapulae
- Dumbbell shrug: lifting your shoulders straight up toward your ears.
- Protraction
- Sliding the shoulder blade forward around the rib cage.
- Push‑up plus: at the top of a push‑up, actively thrusting your chest away from the floor to spread the shoulder blades.
- 💪 Serratus Anterior, 💪 Pectoralis Minor
- Push‑up plus: at the top of a push‑up, actively thrusting your chest away from the floor to spread the shoulder blades.
- Retraction
- Drawing the shoulder blade back toward the spine.
- Performing a seated row: pulling the handles toward your torso, squeezing shoulder blades together.
- 💪 Rhomboid Major, 💪 Rhomboid Minor, Middle 💪 Trapezius
- Performing a seated row: pulling the handles toward your torso, squeezing shoulder blades together.
- Rotation (Downward)
- Returning the scapula from an upwardly rotated position.
- Lowering a heavy overhead load: bringing your arms from overhead back to your sides, guiding the shoulder blades back down.
- 💪 Rhomboid Major, 💪 Rhomboid Minor, Levator Scapulae, 💪 Pectoralis Minor
- Lowering a heavy overhead load: bringing your arms from overhead back to your sides, guiding the shoulder blades back down.
- Rotation (Upward)
- Rotating the scapula so the glenoid cavity faces upward.
- Overhead press or high‑five: raising your arms overhead while the shoulder blade’s lower angle pivots upward.
- Upper 💪 Trapezius, Lower 💪 Trapezius, 💪 Serratus Anterior
- Overhead press or high‑five: raising your arms overhead while the shoulder blade’s lower angle pivots upward.
References
- Bk 3d 17, 27
Bony Landmarks
Acromion process
Flat projection at the lateral end of the spine that articulates with the 🦴 clavicle.
Coracoid process
Hook-like anterior projection providing attachments for 💪 pectoralis minor, coracobrachialis, and the short head of 💪 Biceps.
Glenoid cavity
Shallow socket that receives the head of the 🦴 humerus to form the glenohumeral joint.
Inferior angle
Lower tip where medial and lateral borders meet; attachment for teres major.
Infraspinous fossa
Broad surface below the spine that lodges the infraspinatus.
Lateral border
Edge closest to the axilla providing attachment for teres major and teres minor.
Medial border
Long edge nearest the spine; attachment for rhomboids and part of the serratus anterior.
Spine
Prominent ridge on the posterior surface separating the supraspinous and infraspinous fossae and ending laterally at the acromion.
Subscapular fossa
Wide anterior depression serving as attachment for the subscapularis.
Superior angle
Upper tip joining the superior and medial borders; attachment for part of the levator scapulae.
Superior border
Shortest border near the neck containing the suprascapular notch for passage of the suprascapular nerve.
Suprascapular notch
Small notch on the superior border transmitting the suprascapular nerve beneath the superior transverse ligament.
Supraspinous fossa
Smooth concavity above the spine housing the supraspinatus.
🖼️ Examples
References
- Scapula (Wikipedia)
- 📕
Gf
- 152 Scapula peeks out from the back.