12 Anatomy Applied to Medicine and Surgery. 



Landmarks. The subcutaneous portion of the clavi- 

 cle corresponds to the whole length of the bone, and is bet- 

 ter appreciated, by tihe examining finger, at the middle 

 of the sftiaft than at either extremity, since it is encroached 

 upon, at its inner end, by the sterno-mastoid, above, and 

 by the pectoralis major, below, and, at its outer end, by 

 the trapezius, above, and the deltoid, below. On grasp- 

 ing the bone between the finger and thumb, and then mov- 

 ing the hand along the shaft, the two curves are readily 

 identified, while, on passing the finger downwards, im- 

 mediately below the junction of these curves, a promi- 

 nence is felt at the distance of about one inch from the 

 clavicle. This prominence is the coracoid process, hidden, 

 to some extent, by the inner margin of the deltoid muscle. 

 This coracoid process is, therefore, best felt by push- 

 ing the finger backwards and outwards in the groove 

 between the pectoralis major and the deltoid, at a point 

 about one inch below the clavicle. The acromio-clavicu- 

 lar articulation is directed downwards and inwards, and 

 lies in the plane of a vertical line passing up the middle 

 of the front of the arm, when the latter hangs by the side. 

 This joint may be identified by passing the finger along 

 the clavicle towards the acromion process, near Which is 

 felt the enlarged and slightly knob-like outer end of the 

 bone, and the joint is found lying immediately external 

 to this prominence. 



The sterno-clavicular articulation is V-shaped, with its 

 apex corresponding to the point where the lower border 

 of the articular surface of the clavicle rests on the carti- 

 lage of the first rib, and its sides, to the opposed articular 

 surfaces of the clavicle and sternum. The characteristic 

 slhape of the joint is evident when the finger is sunk into 

 the depression between the sternal end of the clavicle and 

 the sternum, the head of the patient being flexed so as to 



