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The scapula, or shoulder blade, is a flat, triangular bone that forms the posterior of the shoulder girdle. It is one of three bones that make up the shoulder joint, connecting the clavicle to the humerus. The scapula is important as it provides a point of attachment for several muscles that make up the arm and shoulder. These include the rotator cuff muscles, teres major, subscapularis, teres minor, infraspinatus, triceps, biceps, deltoid, levator scapulae, trapezius, rhomboids, and serratus anterior. The scapula's stability is dependent on these surrounding muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Shoulder blade |
| Type of bone | Flat, triangular |
| Number of surfaces | 3 |
| Number of borders | 3 |
| Number of angles | 3 |
| Number of processes | 2 |
| Number of muscles connected | 17 |
| Number of tendons connected | 12 |
| Number of ligaments connected | 6 |
| Number of nerves connected | 2 |
| Number of scapulae in the body | 2 |
| Location | Behind the clavicles near the back |
| Function | Allows movement and use of the shoulder |
| Stability | Dependent on surrounding muscles |
| Muscles attached | Rotator cuff muscles, teres major, subscapularis, teres minor, infraspinatus, triceps, biceps, deltoid, levator scapulae, trapezius, rhomboids, serratus anterior, pectoralis major, pectoralis minor, latissimus dorsi, coracobrachialis, biceps brachii, triceps |
| Injury | Muscle detachment, winging, dyskinesis, atrophy |
| Treatment | Manual scapular stabilization, surgical reattachment |
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What You'll Learn
- The scapula is connected to 17 muscles, including the rotator cuff muscles
- The scapula's stability depends on the surrounding muscles, with several attaching directly
- The serratus anterior, pectoralis major, and pectoralis minor muscles enable protraction
- The trapezius, rhomboids, and latissimus dorsi muscles enable retraction
- Detachment of the scapular muscles can occur as a result of tensile or direct injury
The scapula is connected to 17 muscles, including the rotator cuff muscles
The scapula, or shoulder blade, is a flat, triangular bone that forms the posterior of the shoulder girdle. It is one of three bones that make up the shoulder joint and is connected to 17 muscles, 12 tendons, six ligaments, and two nerves. These connections allow the shoulder to move in six directions—more than any other joint in the body. The scapula also acts as a protective shield for the chest, absorbing contact.
The scapula has three surfaces: the costal (anterior) surface, the lateral surface, and the posterior (inferior) surface. The scapula's stability is dependent on the surrounding musculature, with several muscles attaching directly to the bone. The intrinsic muscles of the scapula include the rotator cuff muscles, teres major, subscapularis, teres minor, and infraspinatus. These muscles attach to the scapular surface and assist with abduction and external and internal rotation of the glenohumeral joint.
The rotator cuff is made up of four muscles and tendons that attach to the shoulder bones. These muscles are the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis, and teres minor. The rotator cuff surrounds the shoulder joint and holds the bones together, connecting the scapula to the upper arm bone (humerus). The rotator cuff is essential for raising the arm overhead and rotating the arm toward and away from the body.
The extrinsic muscles of the scapula include the triceps, biceps, and deltoid. The third group of muscles includes the levator scapulae, trapezius, rhomboids, and serratus anterior. These muscles are responsible for rotational movements and stabilization of the scapula. The scapula's upward rotation, posterior tilt, and external rotation are crucial for achieving full elevation of the arm.
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The scapula's stability depends on the surrounding muscles, with several attaching directly
The scapula, or shoulder blade, is a sturdy, flat, triangular bone that forms the posterior of the shoulder girdle. It is one of three bones that make up the shoulder joint, connecting the clavicle to the humerus. The scapula has two surfaces, three borders, three angles, and three processes.
The extrinsic muscles of the scapula include the triceps, biceps, and deltoid. These muscles affect motion at the glenohumeral joint and are responsible for resisting dislocation of the shoulder and aiding in arm abduction and rotation.
The third group of muscles includes the trapezius, rhomboids, and serratus anterior. These muscles are responsible for rotational movements and stabilisation of the scapula. The serratus anterior, in particular, is an important scapular stabilising muscle. It originates from the first eight ribs and inserts along the anterior medial aspect of the scapula, helping to stabilise the scapula during elevation and pulling it forward and around on the thoracic cage.
The scapula's stability is also supported by various bony projections that provide attachment points for muscles, ligaments, and other soft-tissue structures. The scapulothoracic joint movement, for example, is dependent on the acromioclavicular and sternoclavicular joints. The coordination of the surrounding musculature is essential for optimal shoulder complex function and efficient glenohumeral movement.
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The serratus anterior, pectoralis major, and pectoralis minor muscles enable protraction
The scapula, or shoulder blade, is a flat, triangular bone that forms part of the shoulder joint. It is connected to 17 muscles, including the serratus anterior, pectoralis major, and pectoralis minor. These three muscles are responsible for protraction, which is one of six types of motion that allow for full-functional upper extremity movement.
The serratus anterior is a fan-shaped muscle that originates on the superolateral surfaces of the first to eighth or ninth ribs at the lateral wall of the thorax. Its main part lies deep under the scapula and the pectoral muscles. It acts on the scapula and is the prime mover in both scapular protraction and scapular upward rotation. It is a key scapular stabiliser, keeping the shoulder blades against the rib cage when at rest and during movement. When the serratus anterior is inhibited, scapular protraction is impaired, limiting the overhead range of motion and reducing overall scapular/shoulder stability.
The pectoralis major and pectoralis minor function as synergists of the serratus anterior during protraction exercises. The pectoralis minor is inserted into the medial border and superior surface of the coracoid process. The pectoralis minor is also an accessory inspiratory muscle, used in respiratory distress.
Research has linked shoulder and neck disorders to impairments in the activation of the serratus anterior muscle. Exercises that target the serratus anterior are included in the rehabilitation of patients with shoulder or neck pain.
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The trapezius, rhomboids, and latissimus dorsi muscles enable retraction
The scapula, or shoulder blade, is a flat, triangular bone that forms part of the shoulder joint. It is connected to 17 muscles, including the trapezius, rhomboids, and latissimus dorsi. These muscles enable a wide range of movements in the shoulder joint, including retraction.
The trapezius muscle is a large, superficial back muscle that spans a large width of the upper back. It has three groups of fibres: upper, middle, and lower. The upper fibres elevate and upwardly rotate the scapula, while the middle fibres adduct, or medially retract, the scapula. The lower fibres depress and aid the upper fibres in upwardly rotating the scapula. The main function of the trapezius is to stabilise and control the scapula during movements of the shoulder and upper limb.
The rhomboids, comprising the rhomboid major and minor, also play a key role in scapular retraction and stabilisation. They work closely with the trapezius to ensure smooth, controlled retraction and elevation, particularly in actions such as rowing or pulling motions. Additionally, the rhomboids assist in downward rotation of the scapula, balancing the action of the trapezius during shoulder movements.
The latissimus dorsi is a powerful extensor of the arm at the shoulder. It originates from the inferior angle of the scapula. Together with the trapezius, it forms the most superficial layer of extrinsic back muscles. The latissimus dorsi is also involved in scapular depression and downward rotation, contributing to the full functionality of the shoulder joint.
In summary, the trapezius, rhomboids, and latissimus dorsi muscles are essential for scapular retraction, stabilisation, and overall shoulder joint movement. Their coordinated actions enable a wide range of motions, making them crucial for maintaining shoulder health and functionality.
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Detachment of the scapular muscles can occur as a result of tensile or direct injury
The scapula, or shoulder blade, is a flat, triangular-shaped bone that forms the posterior of the shoulder girdle. It is one of three bones that make up the shoulder joint, connecting the clavicle to the humerus. The scapula is connected to 17 muscles, including the rotator cuff muscles, teres major, subscapularis, teres minor, and infraspinatus. These muscles assist with the movement of the shoulder joint.
Detachment of one or more of the scapular muscles can occur as a result of tensile or direct injury mechanisms. Tensile injuries can include motor vehicle accidents, traction injuries, athletic injuries, and repetitive overload. For example, during a motor vehicle accident, the involved arm is typically the one that was not protected by a seat belt. Traction injuries can occur when the arm is pulled away from the body during the lifting or lowering of heavy objects. Athletic injuries can result from weightlifting or hard throwing, which can cause a loss of control and subsequent injury.
Direct injuries to the scapular muscles can also lead to detachment. This can include direct trauma such as falling and landing on the back or having an object strike the scapula. Compression injuries can also cause detachment, such as when the arm is pulled away from the body during unexpected events like a leashed dog sprinting away from its owner.
Symptoms of scapular muscle detachment include localized pain along the muscles at the corner of the scapula just below the neck and along the medial border. Patients may experience moderate to severe pain at rest or during movement, which often worsens with arm movement in front of the body and overhead. Due to the unfamiliarity with this injury, patients may go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed with other conditions, as imaging techniques like MRI or CT scans may not always detect the detachment. However, surgical reattachment of the detached muscles is recommended and has been shown to be effective in resolving pain and improving function.
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Frequently asked questions
The scapula is the shoulder blade, a bone in the shoulder joint.
The scapula is connected to 17 muscles, including the rotator cuff muscles, teres major, subscapularis, teres minor, infraspinatus, triceps, biceps, deltoid, levator scapulae, trapezius, rhomboids, and serratus anterior.
The scapula forms part of the shoulder's socket and allows for movement and use of the shoulder. It also provides a point of attachment for muscles that make up the arm and shoulder.
Scapular muscle detachment is the traumatic detachment of the rhomboids and/or lower trapezius muscle from the medial border of the scapula. This can occur due to tensile or direct blow/compression injury mechanisms, such as motor vehicle accidents or athletic injuries.
