Scapula Anatomy

The scapula are free floating on the posterior side of the thoracic cage. Of all of the bones in the body, the hyoid and scapula are just chillin' there. They move based off of the muscles that suspend them into their proper placement. Still having trouble figuring out where it is at?

Ever go to the gym (or instagram) and see a shirtless individual’s back? They have not much body fat and you can see something on their back moving when they do a pull up or a lat pull down exercise. You can even see it pinching together when someone does a push up. These are the “blades” of the back and the borders/angles are what you see moving. They almost swing side to side.

The muscles of the scapula are known as the rotator cuff. They help stabilize the shoulder. That is another post in itself.

The scapula articulates with the humerus and the clavicle. With the humerus it makes up the glenohumeral joint (glenoid fossa and head of humerus meet). This is essentially your shoulder joint. The acromioclavicular joint is in the anterior portion of your shoulder. The acromion and the acromial end meet together for this joint. You can injure this joint by flexing your shoulder/arm diving to catch a softball or frisbee and POP. That’s where the acromial end will usually stick up and be disarticulated with the joint.

Here are some resources to help you with the scapula:

1-Glenoid Fossa

2-infraglenoid tubercle

3-coracoid process

4-acromion (process)

5-superior angle

6-supraspinous fossa

7-spine

8-infraspinous fossa

9-axillary/lateral border

10-medial/vertebral border

11-inferior angle

12-subscapular fossa