Anatomy
scapula
scap·u·la [ skap-yuh-luh ]
Subclass of:
Bone structure of upper limb
Etymology:
Latin scapula = shoulder blade
In ancient times it was used in the plural to mean the back. Riolan is said to have adopted this term in the seventeenth century from the Greek skaptein = to dig, because the bone resembles a spade.
In ancient times it was used in the plural to mean the back. Riolan is said to have adopted this term in the seventeenth century from the Greek skaptein = to dig, because the bone resembles a spade.
Definitions related to bone structure of scapula:
-
(scapula) A bone that articulates with the humerus and is part of the scapulohumeral joint.CDISC TerminologyClinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium (CDISC), 2021
-
(scapula) Also called the shoulder blade, it is a flat triangular bone, a pair of which form the back part of the shoulder girdle.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
-
(scapula) One of a pair of triangular bones at the back of the shoulder. The scapula connects the collarbone with the upper arm bone.NCI Dictionary of Cancer TermsU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
-
(scapula) The flat triangle-shaped bone that connects the humerus with the clavicle in the back of the shoulder.NCIU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
-
Scapula, either of two large bones of the shoulder girdle in vertebrates. In humans they are triangular and lie on the upper back between the levels of the second and eighth ribs. A scapula's posterior surface is crossed obliquely by a prominent ridge, the spine, which divides the bone into two...Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2025
Return to OpenMD Medical Dictionary
> S
This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.