Scapula

Looks like

A flat triangular bone on the upper back, gliding over the ribs, with a ridge (the spine) and a shallow socket for the arm.

What it does

The mobile base of the shoulder: 17 muscles attach to it and it turns to let the arm reach overhead.

Keeping it well

Rarely breaks except in high-energy injuries. A shoulder blade that sticks out like a wing when pushing on a wall needs a nerve check.

Its parts

• Acromion
• Coracoid process
• Right scapula
• Left scapula

Related conditions

• Acromegaly
• Fractures
• Fragility fracture
• Frailty & falls in older age
• Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)
• Hyperparathyroidism
• Osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease)
• Osteomalacia & rickets
• Osteomyelitis (bone infection)
• Osteoporosis
• Paget's disease of bone
• Polymyalgia rheumatica
• Sarcoma
• Shoulder dislocation
• Vitamin B1, C and other deficiencies
• Vitamin D deficiency