The Clavicle
Clavicle
The Clavicle (pronounced: /ˈklavɪkəl/), also known as the collar bone, is a long bone that serves as a strut between the shoulder blade and the sternum or breastbone.
Etymology
The term "clavicle" derives from the Latin word clavicula, which means "little key" due to its shape.
Anatomy
The clavicle is a doubly curved short bone that connects the arm (upper limb) to the body (trunk), located directly above the first rib. It acts as a flexible, crane-like strut that allows the shoulder to move freely while the arm remains suspended.
The clavicle is the only long bone in the body that lies horizontally. Together with the shoulder blade, it makes up the shoulder girdle. It is a touchable bone, and in people who have less fat in this region, the location of the bone is clearly visible, as it creates a bulge in the skin.
Function
The clavicle serves several functions:
- It serves as a rigid support from which the scapula and free part of the arm are suspended; an arrangement that keeps the upper limb away from the thorax so that the arm has maximum range of movement.
- Covering the cervicoaxillary canal, it protects the neurovascular bundle that supplies the upper limb.
- It transmits physical impacts from the upper limb to the axial skeleton.
Related Terms
- Scapula: Also known as the shoulder blade, it is the bone that connects the humerus (upper arm bone) with the clavicle.
- Sternum: Also known as the breastbone, it is a flat bone located in the center of the chest, which connects to the clavicle.
- Humerus: The bone of the upper arm or forelimb, forming joints at the shoulder and the elbow.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on The Clavicle
- Wikipedia's article - The Clavicle
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