Scapula Bone

Author: Scott A. Sheffield MS

Last update:

Introduction to Scapula Bone Anatomy:

The scapula or shoulder blade is a flat, triangular-shaped bone that image descriptionlies adjacent to the posterior surface of ribs 2-7.

The posterior view of skeleton showing the left scapula and humerus
The posterior view of skeleton showing the left scapula and humerus and labeled right scapula
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Markings of the Scapula Bone:

  1. It has three borders (superior, lateral, medial), three angles (superior, lateral, medial) and two surfaces (costal, dorsal). A prominent ridge or spine divides the dorsal surface into two, unequal parts called the supraspinous fossa and infraspinous fossa.
  2. A shallow depression at the lateral angle called the glenoid cavity image descriptionaccepts the head of the humerus to form the shoulder or gleno-humeral joint.
  3. The scapula also image descriptionarticulates with the clavicle to form the shoulder girdle or pectoral girdle, which supports movements of the humerus.
  4. Seventeen image descriptionmuscles attach to the borders, angles, ridges, bumps, processes, and fossae found on the surface of the scapula.
The posterior view of skeleton showing the left scapula and humerus with right scapula
The posterior view of skeleton showing the left scapula, humerus, and right scapula with labeled right humerus
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  1. The muscles that insert on the scapula (intrinsic muscles) connect it to the axial skeleton. When these muscles contract, the scapula is elevated, depressed, rotated, protracted, retracted, or stabilized when the humerus is moved.
  2. The muscles that originate on the scapula (extrinsic muscles) insert on the humerus, radius, and ulna. They cause the humerus to rotate, abduct, adduct, flex or extend.

Anterior Scapula Bone Anatomy

Bone Markings:

  1. image descriptionSuperior border or margin (Margo superior) is the upper edge of the scapula that runs next to the clavicle. The omohyoid muscle attaches along this surface. image descriptionIllustration / image descriptionReal Bone
  2. image descriptionMedial border or margin (Margo medialis) is the medial edge of the scapula and is also called the vetebral border. This area is an attachment point for the rhomboid major, rhomboid minor and serratus anterior muscles. image descriptionIllustration / image descriptionReal Bone
  3. image descriptionLateral border or margin (Margo lateralis) is the lateral edge of the scapula. The teres minor muscle attaches along this surface, which is also called the axillary border. image descriptionIllustration / image descriptionReal Bone
  4. image descriptionSuperior angle (Angulus superior) is a sharp curvature at the junction of the superior and medial borders. This area is an attachment point for levator scapula muscle. image descriptionIllustration / image descriptionReal Bone
Illustration of anterior scapula
Labeled anterior scapula with labeled superior border
Labeled anterior scapula bone with labeled superior border
Labeled anterior scapula with labeled medial border
Anterior scapula bone with labeled medial border
Anterior scapula with labeled lateral border
Anterior scapula bone with labeled lateral border
Anterior scapula with labeled superior angle
Anterior scapula bone with labeled superior angle
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Keep learning the anatomy of the scapula with quizzes and labeled diagrams.

  1. image descriptionLateral angle (Angulus lateralis) is the junction of the superior and lateral borders. Its slightly concave lateral edge articulates with the head of the humerus. image descriptionIllustration / image descriptionReal Bone
  2. image descriptionInferior angle (Angulus inferior) is a sharp curvature formed at the junction of the medial and lateral margins. It is an area of attachment for the teres major muscle. image descriptionIllustration / image descriptionReal Bone
  3. image descriptionCoracoid process (Processus coracoi-deus) is a curved, hook-like anterolateral projection located above the lateral angle. image descriptionIllustration / image descriptionReal Bone
  4. image descriptionSuprascapular (scapular) notch (Incisura scapulae) is a small groove located medial to the coracoid process. It forms a passageway for the suprascapular nerve. image descriptionIllustration / image descriptionReal Bone
Illustration of anterior scapula
Anterior scapula with labeled lateral angle
Anterior scapula with labeled inferior angle
Anterior scapula bone with labeled inferior angle
Anterior scapula bone with labeled coracoid process
Anterior scapula with labeled scapular notch
Anterior scapula bone with labeled scapular notch
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  1. image descriptionGlenoid cavity or fossa  (Cavitas glen-oidalis) is a slight concavity at the lateral angle. It forms a shallow socket for the articulation of the head of the humerus. image descriptionIllustration / image descriptionReal Bone
  2. image descriptionInfraglenoid tubercle (Tuberculum infra-glenoidale) is a small prominence on the inferior margin of the glenoid fossa. It serves as an attachment point for the long head of the triceps brachii muscle. image descriptionIllustration / image descriptionReal Bone
  3. image descriptionSubscapular fossa  (Fossa subscapularis) is a large, slightly depressed region in the middle of scapula’s anterior surface. The subscapularis muscle attaches to this region of the bone. image descriptionIllustration / image descriptionReal Bone
Illustration of anterior scapula
Anterior scapula with labeled glenoid cavity
Anterior scapula with labeledInfraglenoid tubercle infraglenoid tubercle
Anterior scapula bone with labeled infraglenoid tubercle
Anterior scapula with labeled subscapular fossa
Anterior scapula bone with labeled subscapular fossa
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Posterior Scapula Bone Anatomy

Bone Markings:

  1. image descriptionSuperior border or margin (Margo superior) is the upper edge of the scapula that runs next to the clavicle. The omohyoid muscle attaches along this surface. image descriptionIllustration / image descriptionReal Bone
  2. image descriptionMedial border or margin (Margo medialis) is the medial edge of the scapula and is also called the vetebral border. This area is an attachment point for the rhomboid major, rhomboid minor and serratus anterior muscles. image descriptionIllustration / image descriptionReal Bone
  3. image descriptionLateral border or margin (Margo lateralis) is the lateral edge of the scapula. The teres minor muscle attaches along this surface, which is also called the axillary border. image descriptionIllustration / image descriptionReal Bone
  4. image descriptionSuperior angle (Angulus superior) is a sharp curvature at the junction of the superior and medial borders. This area is an attachment point for levator scapula muscle. image descriptionIllustration / image descriptionReal Bone
Illustration of posterior scapula
Posterior scapula with labeled superior border
Posterior scapula bone with labeled superior border
Posterior scapula with labeled medial border
Posterior scapula bone with labeled medial border
Posterior scapula with labeled lateral border
Posterior scapula bone with labeled lateral border
Posterior scapula with labeled superior angle
Posterior scapula bone with labeled superior angle
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Learn everything you need to know about scapula anatomy with these interactive quizzes and labelling exercises.

  1. image descriptionLateral angle (Angulus lateralis) is the junction of the superior and lateral borders. Its slightly concave lateral edge articulates with the head of the humerus. image descriptionIllustration / image descriptionReal Bone
  2. image descriptionInferior angle (Angulus inferior) is a sharp curvature formed at the junction of the medial and lateral margins. It is an area of attachment for the teres major muscle. image descriptionIllustration / image descriptionReal Bone
  3. image descriptionScapular spine (Spina scapulae) is a long ridge that runs diagonally across the upper posterior surface of the bone. The trapezius and posterior deltoid muscles attach to the surface of this prominent elevation.. image descriptionIllustration / image descriptionReal Bone
  4. image descriptionAcromion (Acromion scapulae) is a lat-eral, fan-like extension of the spine. It also is an attachment point for the trapezius and posterior deltoid muscles. image descriptionIllustration / image descriptionReal Bone
Illustration of posterior scapula
Posterior scapula with labeled lateral angle
Posterior scapula bone with labeled lateral angle
Posterior scapula with labeled inferior angle
Posterior scapula bone with labeled inferior angle
Posterior scapula with labeled scapular spine
Posterior scapula bone with labeled scapular spine
Posterior scapula with labeled acromion
Posterior scapula bone with labeled acromion
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  1. image descriptionSupraspinous fossa (Fossa supraspinata) is a slightly depressed area located superior to the spine. The supraspinatus muscle attaches to this region of the scapula. image descriptionIllustration / image descriptionReal Bone
  2. image descriptionInfraspinous fossa (Fossa infrspinata) is a large, slightly depressed area located inferior to the spine. It serves as an attachment point for the infraspinatus muscle. image descriptionIllustration / image descriptionReal Bone
  3. image descriptionGlenoid cavity or fossa (Cavitas glenoidalis) is a slight concavity at the lateral angle. It forms a shallow socket for the articulation of the head of the humerus. image descriptionIllustration / image descriptionReal Bone
  4. image descriptionInfraglenoid tubercle (Fossa subscapularis) (Tuberculum infra-glenoidale) is a small prominence on the inferior margin of the glenoid fossa. The long head of the triceps brachii muscle attaches to this knob-like ridge. image descriptionIllustration / image descriptionReal Bone
Illustration of posterior scapula
Posterior scapula with labeled supraspinous fossa
Posterior scapula bone with labeled supraspinous fossa
Posterior scapula with labeled infraspinous fossa
Posterior scapula bone with labeled infraspinous fossa
Posterior scapula with labeled glenoid cavity
Posterior scapula bone with labeled glenoid cavity
Posterior scapula with labeled infraglenoid cavity
Posterior scapula bone with labeled infraglenoid cavity
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Test yourself:

  1. Basics: image descriptionShow/image descriptionhide
  2. Anterior view: image descriptionShow/image descriptionhide
  3. Posterior view: image descriptionShow/image descriptionhide

Test yourself on scapula with hidden answers
Test yourself on scapula with answers
Test yourself on anterior scapula with hidden answers
Test yourself on anterior scapula with answers
Test yourself on posterior scapula with hidden answers
Test yourself on posterior scapula with answers
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