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Spatula
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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The scapula is a flat triangular bone. It is adjacent to the rib cage on its posterolateral side at the level of the 2nd to 7th rib. The scapula has three angles: lower (ingulus inferior), lateral (angulus lateralis) and upper (angulus superior). The scapula also has three edges: medial (margo medialis), facing the spinal column; lateral (margo lateralis), directed outward and slightly downward, and upper (margo superior), which has a scapular notch (incisure scapulae) for the passage of vessels and nerves.
The anterior costal surface (facie costalis) forms a weakly defined subscapular fossa (fossa subscapularis), to which the muscle of the same name is adjacent. The dorsal (back) surface (facies dorsalis) has a strongly protruding posteriorly, oriented transversely ridge - the spine of the scapula (spina scapulae). Above the ridge is the supraspinous fossa (fossa supraspinal), below the ridge - the infraspinous fossa (fossa infraspinata). The muscles of the same name are located in these fossae. The spine of the scapula at its free end significantly expands and ends in a wide and flat shoulder process - the acromion. At the top of the acromion there is a flat articular surface for articulation with the clavicle. The lateral angle of the scapula is thickened and forms the glenoid cavity (cavitas glenoidalis) for articulation with the head of the humerus. Above the glenoid cavity is the supraglenoid tubercle (tuberculum supraglenoidale), below the glenoid cavity is the infraglenoid tubercle (tuberculuni infraglenoidale); the long heads of the biceps and triceps brachii muscles begin on them. Behind the glenoid cavity is the neck of the scapula (collum scapulae). From the upper edge of the scapula, near its neck, extends the forward-curved coracoid process (processus coracoideus).
The ligaments of the scapula proper
Between the individual parts of the scapula there are ligaments that are not directly related to the acromioclavicular and sternoclavicular joints. The proper ligaments of the scapula include the coracoacromial ligament (lig. coracoacromiale) - a powerful fibrous plate stretched between the apex of the acromion and the coracoid process of the scapula. This ligament is located above the shoulder joint in the form of an arch and limits the abduction of the shoulder (arm) to a horizontal level. The superior transverse ligament of the scapula (lig. transversum scapulae superius) connects the edges of the notch of the scapula, turning the notch into an opening through which the suprascapular artery passes. The inferior transverse ligament of the scapula (lig. transversum scapulae inferius) is located on the posterior surface of the scapula, connecting the base of the acromion and the posterior edge of the glenoid cavity of the scapula. The transverse scapular artery passes through the opening limited by this ligament.
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