Spine of scapula
Leftscapula seen from behind (spine of scapula shown in red)
Position of spine of scapula shown in red
Details
Identifiers
Latin	spina scapulae
TA98	A02.4.01.005
TA2	1147
FMA	13453
Anatomical terms of bone [edit on Wikidata]

Thespine of the scapula orscapular spine is a prominent plate ofbone, which crosses obliquely the medial four-fifths of thescapula at its upper part, and separates thesupra- from theinfraspinatous fossa.

It begins at the vertical (vertebral or medial) border by a smooth, triangular area over which the tendon of insertion of the lower part of theTrapezius glides. Gradually becoming more elevated, it ends in theacromion, which overhangs theshoulder-joint.

The spine is triangular, and flattened from above downward, its apex being directed toward the vertebral border.

Theroot of the spine of thescapula is the most medial part of thescapular spine. It is termed "triangular area of the spine of scapula", based on its triangular shape giving it distinguishable visible shape on x-ray images.^[1] The root of the spine is on a level with the tip of thespinous process of thethird thoracic vertebra.^[2]

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  Left scapula. Animation. Root of spine is shown in red.
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  Position of root of spine (shown in red.) Animation.
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  Medial view of left scapula. Root of spine shown in red.
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  Posterior surface of scapula. Root of spine is not labeled. But visible at center right.
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  Left scapula. Posterior view. Root of spine shown in red.
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  Posterior view. Root of spine shown in red.

It presents two surfaces and three borders.

• Its superior surface is concave; it assists in forming thesupraspinatous fossa, and gives origin to part of thesupraspinatus.
• Its inferior surface forms part of theinfraspinatous fossa, gives origin to a portion of theinfraspinatus, and presents near its center the orifice of anutrient canal.

Of the three borders, the anterior is attached to the dorsal surface of the bone; the posterior, or crest of the spine, is broad, and presents two lips and an intervening rough interval.

• Thetrapezius is attached to the superior lip, and a rough tubercle is generally seen on that portion of the spine which receives the tendon of insertion of the lower part of this muscle.
• Thedeltoideus is attached to the whole length of theinferior lip.
• Theinterval between the lips is subcutaneous and partly covered by the tendinous fibers of these muscles.

Thelateral border, or base, the shortest of the three, is slightly concave; its edge, thick and round, is continuous above with the under surface of theacromion, below with the neck of the scapula. It forms the medial boundary of thegreat scapular notch, which serves to connect the supra- and infraspinatous fossae.

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  Left scapula seen from behind (spine shown in red).
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  Position of spine (shown in red). Animation.
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  Left scapula seen from behind (spine labeled at center top, projecting "out").
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  Left scapula seen from behind (spine labeled at center top).
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  Leftscapula.lateral view (spine labeled at upper right).
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  Left scapula. Lateral view (spine shown in red)
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  Surface anatomy of back
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  Spine of scapula labeled in red, showing muscles attached to it
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  Trapezius muscle
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  Deltoid muscle

This article incorporates text in thepublic domain frompage 203 of the 20th edition ofGray's Anatomy(1918)

Wikimedia Commons has media related toSpine of scapula.

• Anatomy photo:03:os-0106 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Scapular Region: Scapula (Left)"

• Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
• Scapula

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• Commons category link is on Wikidata