Schultergürtel/en

The shoulder girdle (lat. Cingulum membri thoracici) connects the free upper extremity with the trunk. The bony structure consists of the Shoulder blade. (scapula) and the Clavicle (clavicula). The two bones are connected by the Acromioclavicular joint. (Art. acromioclavicularis) are connected with each other. The collarbone has a direct connection to the trunk via the Sternoclavicular joint. (Art. sternoclavicularis). The shoulder blade on the other hand is embedded in muscle loops and has no direct connection to the trunk.

Exercises

Upper extremityShoulder girdle

Neighboring structures

Shoulder bladeClavicle

Body regions

Bones upper extremityUpper extremity

Organ system

BonesPassive movement apparatusMovement apparatus

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Anatomy

Anatomy of the shoulder girdle

The shoulder girdle has a bony structure in pairs and consists of the scapula and the clavicula on the right and left side of the body. The clavicle is an s-shaped curved Tubular Bone. The shoulder blade, on the other hand, is formed by a flat triangular bone embedded in muscle loops. The shoulder girdle connects the free upper extremities (arms) with the trunk. The direct connection is through the sternoclavicular joint, also called medial clavicle joint. This is the point where clavicula and sternum meet and is the only bony connection between the upper extremities and the trunk. The scapula and clavicle articulate with each other via the acromioclavicular joint (lateral clavicle joint). The Humeroscapular joint (shoulder joint) connects the Humeroscapular joint (shoulder joint) with the shoulder girdle.

Alignment of clavicle and scapula

Alignment of the shoulder girdle

As a result of the evolutionary uprighting of the human being into an upright position, the shoulder blades have shifted dorsally to the almost frontal rear surface of the thorax. In a cranial view, the scapula and the frontal plane form an angle of 30°. Between the clavicle and the scapula there is a larger angle of about 60°. This causes the shoulder joints to tilt forward slightly.

Shoulder girdle as zonoskeleton

Shoulder girdle in the trunk

The shoulder girdle, like the pelvic girdle, belongs to the zonoskeleton. These are bone elements that are attached proximally to the trunk. Here this is fulfilled by the shoulder blade and the collarbone. The shoulder girdle thus represents a movable body appendage, which is formed by different sections.

Function

The shoulder girdle provides stability between the trunk and the upper free extremity. This is ensured less by bony connections than much more by the shoulder girdle musculature. This also ensures good movement of the shoulder. The clavicle and the scapula have only little movement to each other. However, the combination with the musculature and the shoulder joint allows a very large range of motion.

Movement

The scapula and clavicle are mechanically connected by the clavicle joints. Thus the shoulder blade moves with every movement of the clavicle. The scapula then glides over the thorax due to the scapula-thoracic joint. The scapula can make the following movements:

• Swinging laterally
• lifting and lowering
• feed forward and backward

The sternoclavicular joint raises and lowers the shoulder around an almost sagittal axis. The forward and backward movement around a longitudinal axis is also caused by the medial clavicular joint. From a lateral viewpoint, the clavicle in the steroclavicular joint moves approximately on a conical mantle.

Diseases

• Dysostosis cleidocranialis
• Incisura-Scapulae-Syndrom
• Fractures of the clavicle
• Fractures of the scapula

Free exploration

Look at the structure of the shoulder girdle in 3D and explore it freely. Afterwards you can test your acquired knowledge by the exercises.

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Exercises

Further article

Pelvic girdle

Upper arm bone

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