Pectoral Guirdle

🦴 Pectoral Girdle Flashcards (with key info + easy ways to remember)

Front: Pectoral Girdle
Back:
Definition: The shoulder girdle made of the clavicles and scapulae.
Function: Connects the upper limb to the trunk and supports shoulder movement.
💡 Think: It “girdles” your arms to your body.

Front: Clavicle
Back:
Definition: S-shaped collarbone connecting the sternum to the scapula.
Function: Holds the scapula in place and helps support the shoulder.
💡 “Collar of the skeleton” — connects chest to shoulder.

Front: Scapula
Back:
Definition: Flat, triangular shoulder blade on the back of the rib cage.
Function: Connects arm to body and gives muscles a place to attach.
💡 Shaped like a wing — lets your arms “fly” around.

Front: Acromion (process)
Back:
Definition: Projection on the top of the scapula.
Function: Articulates with the clavicle to form the top of the shoulder.
💡 “Acro” = top — this is the highest point on the scapula.

Front: Glenoid cavity (fossa)
Back:
Definition: Shallow depression on the scapula.
Function: Holds the head of the humerus to form the shoulder joint.
💡 Like a golf tee that holds the ball of your arm bone.

Front: Spine (of scapula)
Back:
Definition: Raised ridge on the back of the scapula.
Function: Separates the two fossae and is a muscle attachment site.
💡 Like a spine down the scapula’s “back.”

Front: Borders (superior, lateral, medial)
Back:
Definition: The three edges of the scapula.
Function: Give the scapula shape and serve as muscle attachment sites.
💡 Lateral = arm side; "SLiM" = Superior, Lateral, Medial.

Front: Infraspinous fossa
Back:
Definition: Depression below the scapular spine (posterior side).
Function: Muscle attachment site for infraspinatus.
💡 Infra = “below,” so it’s below the spine.

Front: Supraspinous fossa
Back:
Definition: Depression above the scapular spine.
Function: Muscle attachment site for supraspinatus.
💡 Supra = “above,” so it’s above the spine.

Front: Subscapular fossa
Back:
Definition: Large depression on the front (anterior) surface of scapula.
Function: Muscle attachment site for subscapularis.
💡 Sub = “under” and it’s under the scapula (front side).

Front: Coracoid process
Back:
Definition: Curved projection on the front of the scapula.
Function: Attachment site for muscles and ligaments.
💡 Looks like a bent finger — “coracoid” = crow’s beak!