Bones, Ligaments, and Joints of the Pectoral Girdle

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering anatomical terminology, bony features, joint classifications, and upper limb anatomy of the pectoral girdle.

Condyle

A rounded articular surface covered with articular (hyaline) cartilage.

Crest

A narrow or wide ridge of bone.

Epicondyle

A prominent ridge or eminence located superior to a condyle.

Facet

A flat, smooth articular surface, typically covered with articular (hyaline) cartilage.

Fissure

A very narrow, slit-like opening in a bone.

Ligament

A fibrous tissue structure that connects bone to bone.

Tendon

A fibrous tissue structure that connects muscle to bone.

Periosteum

A tough fibrous sheath covering bone that is tethered by Sharpey's fibers and serves as an attachment site for ligaments and tendons.

Synarthrosis

A functional joint classification referring to an immovable joint.

Amphiarthrosis

A functional joint classification referring to a slightly moveable joint.

Diarthrosis

A functional joint classification referring to a freely moveable joint.

Fibrous Joints

Joints lacking a synovial cavity where articulating bones are held together by dense fibrous connective tissue, permitting little or no movement.

Sutures

Fibrous joints bound by dense fibrous connective tissue, found between bones of the skull.

Syndesmoses

Immovable fibrous joints bound by more dense fibrous connective tissue than a suture, such as a gomphosis.

Interosseous Membrane

A broad sheet of dense fibrous connective tissue connecting adjacent bones, such as between the radius and ulna.

Synchondroses

Primary cartilaginous joints held together by hyaline cartilage that allow no movement, such as epiphyseal plates and sternocostal joints.

Symphyses

Secondary cartilaginous joints held together by fibrocartilage that permit slight movement, such as the pubic symphysis and intervertebral discs.

Synovial Joints

Freely movable joints containing a synovial cavity lined with synovium, articular cartilage, and filled with synovial fluid.

Plane Joint

A synovial joint with flat articular surfaces that allow bones to slide over each other.

Hinge Joint

A uniaxial synovial joint resembling a door hinge that permits flexion and extension only.

Ball and Socket Joint

A multiaxial synovial joint where a spherical head articulates with a cup-like socket, permitting the widest range of motion.

Saddle Joint

A synovial joint with reciprocally concavoconvex articular surfaces allowing flexion/extension and abduction/adduction.

Pivot Joint

A synovial joint in which a rounded bone process rotates within a ring formed by bone and ligament.

Ellipsoid Joint

A synovial joint where an elliptical convex surface articulates with an elliptical concave surface.

Condyloid Joint

A synovial joint where two distinct convex surfaces articulate with two distinct concave surfaces, permitting flexion/extension, abduction/adduction, and circumduction.

Clavicle

An S-shaped collar bone articulating medially with the sternum and laterally with the scapula, acting as a strut transferring forces between the upper limb and axial skeleton.

Clavicular Fracture Site

The junction between the medial two-thirds and lateral one-third of the clavicle, which is its weakest and straightest region.

Scapula

A flat triangular bone sitting on the posterior thorax at the level of the 2nd to 7th ribs.

Inferior Clavicle Landmarks

Rough surface features including the impression for costoclavicular ligament, groove for subclavius, conoid tubercle, and trapezoid line.

Surgical Neck of Humerus

A narrow region distal to the humeral tubercles where fractures pose a structural risk to the axillary nerve and posterior circumflex humeral artery.

Radial Groove

A groove running obliquely down the posterior shaft of the humerus that contains the radial nerve.

Sternoclavicular Joint

An atypical saddle-shaped synovial joint articulating the clavicle, manubrium of sternum, and 1st costal cartilage, containing a fibrocartilaginous articular disc.

Acromioclavicular Joint

An atypical plane synovial joint articulating the lateral clavicle with the acromion of the scapula.

Coracoclavicular Ligament

A structural ligament consisting of the conoid ligament and trapezoid ligament that tethers the scapula superiorly to the clavicle.

Shoulder Separation

An acromioclavicular joint dislocation resulting from a direct blunt force pushing the scapula and humerus inferiorly.

Glenohumeral Joint

A ball-and-socket synovial joint between the glenoid fossa of the scapula and the head of the humerus, identified as the most mobile joint in the body.

Glenoid Labrum

A fibrocartilaginous ridge surrounding the glenoid cavity that deepens the socket to enhance stability.

Rotator Cuff Muscles

Four active stabilizing muscles of the shoulder joint: Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus, Teres Minor, and Subscapularis.

Anterior Glenohumeral Dislocation

The most common shoulder dislocation characterized by antero-infero-medial displacement of the humeral head, risking damage to the glenoid labrum and axillary nerve.

Light Bulb Sign

The abnormal anterior-posterior radiograph appearance of the humeral head during a posterior shoulder dislocation due to internal rotation.

Bursa

A fluid-filled sac lined by synovial membrane containing synovial fluid that acts as a cushion preventing friction between moving bones and tissues.

Sulcus Sign

A visible visual depression or indentation appearing below the acromion during glenohumeral joint dislocation.