THE SCAPULA. 24-", 



of the Trapezius muscle, and presents about its centre a small oval surface for 

 articulation with the acromial end of the clavicle. Its apex, which corresponds 

 to the point of meeting of theae two borders in front, is thin, and has attached to 

 it the coraco-acromial ligament. 



Of the three borders or costae 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, semicircular 

 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 downward and backward to the inferior angle. 

 Immediately below the glenoid cavity is a rough impression (the infraglenoid 

 tubercle), 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 Subscapularis 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 outward, 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 Up, 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 

 Rhomboideus 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 outward, and gives 

 attachment to a few fibres of the Levator anguli scapulae 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 (ytyirtj, a socket), whose 

 longest diameter is from above downward, and its direction outward and forward. 

 It is broader below than above; at its apex is a slight impression (supraglenoid 

 tubercle') to which 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 sur- 

 rounds 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 prom- 

 inence, the coracoid process. 



The Coracoid Process, so called from its fancied resemblance to a crow's beak 

 (xooaz. 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 is directed at first upward and 

 inward, then, becoming smaller, it changes its direction and passes forward and 

 outward. The ascending portion, flattened from before backward, presents in 

 front a smooth, concave surface over which passes the Subscapularis muscle. The 

 horizontal portion is flattened from above downward, its upper surface is convex 

 and irregular, and gives attachment to the Pectoralis minor ; its under surface is 



