Chap., 9.] Shoulder made, 65V. 127 



the remaining margin, which defcends obliquely from 

 the point of the (boulder to the inferior angle, is by far 

 the thickeil and ftrongeft.* 



The precedes of this bone are the coracoid, fo called 

 from its refemblance to, a crow's beak, which riles from 

 the anterior part of the fuperior margin of the fcapula; 

 and the acromion, which is a broad and flat procefs 

 of thefpine, placed at the top of the fhoulder, and is 

 the whole thick bulbous fore part of the bone. Near 

 the fore part of the fuperior margin is a (emilunar 

 niche, from one end of which to the other a ligament 

 is ftretched ; and fometimes the bone is continued to 

 form one or two holes for the pafiage of the fcapular 

 blood-vefiels and nerves. From the niche to the ter- 

 mination of the fofla (in which a mufcle called the teres 

 major is attached) the fcapula is narrower than any 

 where elfe, and this part has therefore been called its 

 neck. 



The cavities of the fcapula are the glenoid cavity* 

 wider below than above, and covered with cartilage 

 for the reception of the bone of the arm j and feveral 

 /mailer cavities for the connexion of mufcles, and 

 other ufes. 



The texture of the fcapula is firm, but the bone is 

 fo thin as at mod places to be tranfparent. It is con- 

 nected by a ball and focket to the bone of the arm ; by 

 the intervention of cartilage to the clavicle ; and -.viih 

 the head, the os hyoides, the fternum, the ribs, and 

 the back-bone, by means of mufcles. its ufes are 

 for the articulation of the arm-bone, for the insertion 

 of a great number cf mufcles, to add force and ex~ 

 tenfivenefs to the motions of the arm, and to be a de- 

 fence to the pofterior part of the trunk. 



The clavicula, clavicle, or collar-bone, is a cylin- 

 drical bone, placed almoft horizontally between the 



fide 



