SCAPULA. 205 



Of the three borders or costse of the scapula, the superior is the shortest and 

 thinnest; it is concave, terminating at its inner extremity at the superior angle, 

 at its outer extremity at the coracoid process. At its outer part is a deep semi- 

 circular notch, the suprascapular, formed partly by the base of the coracoid 

 process. This notch is converted into a foramen by the transverse ligament, 

 and serves for the passage of the suprascapular nerve. The adjacent margin 

 of the superior border affords attachment to the Omo-hyoid muscle. The 

 external or axillary border is the thickest of the three. It commences above at 

 the lower margin of the glenoid cavity, and inclines obliquely downwards and 

 backwards to the inferior angle. Immediately below the glenoid cavity is a 

 rough depression about an inch in length, which affords attachment to the long 

 head of the Triceps muscle; to this succeeds a longitudinal groove, which 

 extends as far as its lower third, and affords origin to part of the Subscapularis 

 muscle. The inferior third of this border which is thin and sharp, serves for 

 the attachment of a few fibres of the Teres Major behind, and of the Subscapu- 

 laris in front. The internal or vertebral border, also named the base, is the 

 longest of the three, and extends from the superior to the inferior angle of 

 the bone. It is arched, intermediate in thickness between the superior and 

 the external borders, and the portion of it above the spine is bent considerably 

 outwards, so as to form an obtuse angle with the lower part. The vertebral 

 border presents an anterior lip, a posterior lip, and an intermediate space. The 

 anterior lip affords attachment to the Serratus Magnus; the posterior lip, to the 

 Supraspinatus above the spine, the Infraspinatus below; the interval between 

 the two lips, to the Levator Anguli Scapulae above the triangular surface at 

 the commencement of the spine; the Bhomboideus Minor, to the edge of that 

 surface ; the Rhomboideus Major being attached by means of a fibrous arch, 

 connected above to the lower part of the triangular surface at the base of the 

 spine, and below to the lower part of the posterior border. 



Of the three angles, the superior, formed by the junction of the superior and 

 internal borders, is thin, smooth, rounded, somewhat inclined outwards, and 

 gives attachment to a few fibres of the Levator Anguli Scapula muscle. The 

 inferior angle, thick and rough, is formed by the union of the vertebral and 

 axillary borders, its outer surface affording attachment to the Teres Major, 

 and occasionally a few fibres of the Latissimus Dorsi. The anterior angle is 

 the thickest part of the bone, and forms what is called the head of the scapula. 

 The head presents a shallow, pyriform, articular surface, the glenoid cavity (y^vrj, 

 a socket], whose longest diameter is from above downwards, and its direction 

 outwards and forwards. It is broader below than above ; at its apex is attached 

 the long tendon of the Biceps muscle. It is covered with cartilage in the recent 

 state; and its margins, slightly raised, give attachment to a fibro-cartilaginous 

 structure, the glenoid ligament, by which its cavity is deepened. The neck of 

 the scapula is the slightly depressed surface which surrounds the head; it is 

 more distinct on the posterior than on the anterior surface, and below than 

 above. In the latter situation, it has, arising from it, a thick prominence, the 

 coracoid process. 



The coracoid process, so called from its fancied resemblance to a crow's beak 

 (xopaf, a crow], is a thick curved process of bone, which arises by a broad base 

 from the upper part of the neck of the scapula; it ascends at first upwards and 

 inwards; then, becoming smaller, it changes its direction, and passes forwards 

 and outwards. The ascending portion, flattened from before backwards, pre- 

 sents in front a smooth concave surface, over which passes the Subscapularis 

 muscle. The horizontal portion is flattened from above downwards; its upper 

 surface is convex and irregular; its under surface is smooth; its anterior border 

 is rough, and gives attachment to the Pectoralis Minor; its posterior border is 

 also rough for the coraco-acromial ligament, while the apex is embraced by the 

 conjoined tendon of origin of the short head of the Biceps and Coraco-brachialis 

 muscles. At the inner side of the root of the coracoid process is a rough 



