What is the shoulder blade called?
The shoulder blade is called the scapula. Gray's Anatomy (1918) describes it as a large, flat, triangular bone.
What it is
- A large, flat, triangular bone.
- Bears a projecting spine on the back, ending in the acromion.
- Has a shallow socket (the glenoid cavity) that receives the head of the humerus.
Where it is
- On the upper back, over the second to seventh ribs.
- Articulates with the clavicle at the acromioclavicular joint.
- Articulates with the humerus at the shoulder joint.
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Last verified: 2026-07-18
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