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Anatomy Atlases: Illustrated Encyclopedia of Human Anatomic Variation: Opus V: Skeletal System: Scapula

Illustrated Encyclopedia of Human Anatomic Variation: Opus V: Skeletal Systems: Upper Limb

Scapula

Ronald A. Bergman, PhD
Adel K. Afifi, MD, MS
Ryosuke Miyauchi, MD

Peer Review Status: Internally Peer Reviewed


The scapular notch is frequently bridged by bone rather than a ligament (5% of cases studied), converting it into a foramen which is normal in some animals.

Accessory notches may be present; one frequently is found on the inferior angle.

The acromion may fail to unite. In about 5% of individuals (more commonly males), the separate part (os acromion) is on the right side.

Fascicles of the subclavius muscle may be inserted onto the coracoid process by passing through the clavipectoral fascia.

The tendon of m. pectoralis minor, in part (15%) or entirely (1%) , may pass over the coracoid process to insert elsewhere. As a result, it may produce a characteristic groove on the superior part of the process. A bursa intervening between the tendon and bone may communicate with the shoulder joint (Seib).

The coracoid process may exist as a separate bone.

Sulcus for Circumflex Scapular Artery
One hundred sixty-seven (14.5%) of a total of 1,152 scapulae from the dissecting room exhibited no sulcus for the circumflex scapular artery. Contrasted with the observations of Kajava who found the sulcus was absent more often than it was present in Finns. In 130 scapulae he found it present 47 times on the left side, and 34 times on the right. Vallois reported the incidence of the vascular sulcus was somewhat higher. In French scapulae he found it in 64% on the right side and 61.7% on the left side--the absence between 35 to 40%.

Scapular Foramina
Considered to be rare, Gruber (1871, 1877) described only three cases. In 180 scapulae of known age and sex, Vallois found only one produced by fracture. In his collection of 795, he found seven scapulae with foramina. Gray studied 1,151 scapulae with 28 possessing foramina. Three of 87 Indian scapulae had foramina.

Costal Facets
Gruber (1864,1872) reported that sometimes there is a protuberance located on the scapula related to the "bursa mucosa anguli superioris scapulae". Fontan described a pair of scapulae, which possessed two costal facts each. They articulated with the posterior surfaces of the third and seventh ribs, respectively, and had associated with them both a capsule and synovial membrane. Kajava reported four instances of costal facets. Vallois found 13 costal facets in 180 (7.2%) scapulae. Gray found costal facets in 64 of 1,152 (5.55%) scapulae. Only two of 87 Indian scapulae had costal facets at the superior angle of the left scapula.

Suprascapular Foramina
The conversion of the suprascapular notch into a foramen as a result of the ossification of the supraspinous ligament was found in three of 60 (5%) scapulae by Poirier and Chasrpy. In 133 Finnish scapulae studied by Kajava the foramen was present only twice (1.5%). Vallois found the foramina to occur 13 times in 200 (6.5%) scapulae of Frenchmen. In a second study Vallois reported that Italian scapulae had foramina in 6.1% and in a series of scapulae from various sources the incidence varied from 0% to 3.3%. Gray found foramen in 73 of 1,151 scapulae (6.34%). No suprascapular foramina were found in 87 Indian scapulae.

Shape of Acromion
The shapes of the acromial processes have been classified (Macalister 1893) as to whether they were falciform, triangular, quadrangular, or intermediate in form. Of 1,080 scapulae 507 (46.9%) possessed acromions which could be classified as falciform. Five hundred forty-four of the 1,080 were left scapulae and among these the falciform type of acromion was found 277 times. The 536 right scapulae had falciform acromions 230 times. These percentages are higher than those found by Kajava who found the falciform type to occur in 5.7% of 121 scapulae, and of Vallois who reported 14% of 157 French scapulae to have acromial processes of falciform shape.

Three hundred thirty-four of the 1,080 acromial processes were triangular. Of these, 137 were on the left side and 167 were on the right side. Gray's figures are again somewhat higher than those of Kajava (8.3%) and of Vallois (19.7%). Triangular acromial processes occurred in both bones of pairs 58 times from a total of 334 paired scapulae.

Among the 1,080 scapulae Gray found 214 (19.8%) acromial processes that he classified as quadrangular. One hundred five of the 544 left acromions were of this type, as were 109 of the 536 from the right side. These results of Gray do not correspond to those of Kajava who found quadrangular acromions in 55.8% or of those of Vallois, 26.1%.

An intermediate or non-characteristic shape of the acromial processes was evident in 55 (5.1%) of 1,080 scapulae. Both Kajava and Vallois assigned an intermediate or non-characteristic shape to a higher number (percentage) of acromions; 30.6% and 40.1% respectively.

All of the 80 Indian scapulae Gray examined had acromial processes that could be classified. There were 30 (30.5%) falciform, 49 (61.2%) and 1 (1.25%) was quadrangular.

Separate Acromial Bones
Separate acromial bones have been reported by Gruber (1863), LaGrange (1882), Poirier (1887), Struthers (1895, 1896), Neumann (1918) and Gray, (1942). These were descriptive studies. Symington (1900) found 5 separate acrominal bones in 40 subjects (6.25%). Vallois (1925) studied 235 scapulae and found separate acromial processes in 2.1%. In 1932, Vallois reported separate acromial processes occurring 19 times in 681 scapulae (2.7%). Gray (1942) reported 36 separate acromial bones in 1,086 scapulae. He also reported agreement with Vallois that separate acromial processes occur twice as frequently unilaterally as bilaterally. Gray also reported that 83 Indian scapulae had 3 unattached acromial processes; two 40 right scapulae and once in 43 left scapulae.

Facets on Interior Surface of Acromion
Gray (1942) reported 240 (22.12%) scapular facets in 1,085 specimens. One hundred-eleven facets from 547 specimens were on left scapulae and 129 factes were of 538 right scapulae.

Of 334 pairs, 29 left and 40 right scapulae showed facets on one side alone. Forty-six pairs showed facets on both the left and right sides. The facets on 22 pairs were identical with each other in size and other characteristics. Among 80 Indian scapulae acromial facets were found 5 times. They occurred twice in 38 right scapulae and three times in 42 left scapulae.

Shape of the Glenoid Fossa
The shapes of the glenoid fossae were classified on the basis of whether they were pyriform, round, oval or unclassifiable. The largest number of scapulae examined exhibited pyriform glenoid fossae (1,062/1,149--92.4%). One 5/1,149 (4%) glenoid fossae were found. In 78 of 1,149 (6.8%) scapulae the glenoid fossae were oval in form. Only 4 of 1,149 (0.3%) could not be classfied as pyriform, round or oval. Gray (1942) reported that the glenoid fossae were pyriform in 86 of 87 Indian scapulae. One left scapula showed on oval type.

Notchof Glenoid Lip
Kajava (1924) found the notch of the glenoid lip to be absent in 10.3% of 117 scapulae of Finns. In 180 French scapulae, Vallois (1932) reported the notch present in all but 7. Gray (1942) found the notch absent from the glenoid lip 265 times in 1,150 scapulae (23.04%) from the dissecting room. He also reported that among the 87 Indian scapulae, 15 showed no notch of the glenoid lip.

Vertebral Border
Gray states that according to Graves (1910) classification of the vertebral border, that among 1,151 scapulae 706 were convex, 239 were straight and 114 were concave, and two were unclassifiable. Among 580 left scapulae the convex vertebral border was present 363 times, the straight 162 times, and the concave 54 times. Among 87 Indian scapulae the convex vertebral border was noted 77 times, the straight 9 times, and the concave once.

A plate of bone extending from the medial margin of the scapula to the vertebral column has been reported (Ingersoll).

Incidences in per cent among paired scapulae from dissecting room.

Characteristic

Common to both scapulae

Left scapulae only

Right scapulae only

Absence of muscular cristae

1.1

1.9

0.5

Absence of sulcus for circumflex scapular artery

5.7

6.5

9.2

Anomalous scapular foramina

.3

1.9

2.7

Presence of costal facets

2.2

5.4

3.0

Presence of suprascapular foramina

3.5

4.6

3.2

Schap of acromial process

Falciform

33.8

18.3

10.2

Triangular

17.4

6.6

13.2

Quadrangular

11.7

8.1

7.5

Intermediate

2.4

3.0

3.6

Separate acromial bones

1.2

0.9

1.5

Facets on interior surface of acromion

13.8

8.7

12.0

Shape of glenoid fossa

Pyriform

88.1

2.4

3.2

Round

0.0

0.8

0.3

Oval

2.2

3.0

5.1

Unclassifiable

0.3

0.0

0.0

Absence of notch of glenoid lip

11.1

9.5

15.7

Reactions at margins of glenoid fossae

20.3

8.7

9.8

From Gray, 1942.

Os Acromiale

Ossification of Acromion Process

Various Types of Acromion Process

Scapular Facets


References

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Fischer, H. (1927) Quelques considérations sur la morphologie de l'omoplate. Echancrure coracoidienne transformée en un canal par un pont osseux (origine congénitale). Assoc. Anatomistes Comptes Rendus 22:95-98.

Fontan, C. (1912) Articulations scapulocostales. Bull. Soc. Anat., Paris. 48:182-192.

Graves, W.W. (1910) The scaphoid scapula: A frequent anomaly in development of heredity, clinical and functional significance. Med. Rec. 78:861-873.

Graves, W.W. (1921) The types of scapulae. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 4:111-128.

Graves, W.W. (1922) Age changes in the scapula. Am. J. Phys. Anthrop. 5:21-34.

Graves, W.W. (1924) The relation of scapular types to problems of human heredity, longevity, morbidity and adaptability in general. Arch. Int. Med. 34:1-26.

Gray, D.J. (1942) Variations in the human scapulae. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 29:57-72.

Gruber, W. (1863) Über die Arten der Akromialknochen und accidentellen Akromialgelenke. ARch. f. Anat. Physiol. u. Wissen. Med. 1863:373-393.

Gruber, W. (1864) Die Bursae mucosae der inneren Achselhölenwand. Arch. f. Anat. Physiol. u. Wissen Med. 1864:358-366.

Gruber, W. (1871) Über ein congenitales Loch im unteren Schulterblattwinkel über dessen Epiphyse. Arch. Anat. Physiol. Wissen Med. 1871:300-304.

Gruber, W. (1872) Über einen fortsatzartigen, cylindrischen Höcker an der Vorderfläsche des Angulus superior der Scapula. Arch. Pathol. Anat. Physiol. Klin. Med. 56:425-426.

Gruber, W. (1877) Zwei Scapulae mit je einem congenitalen Loche und eine Scapula mit einem congenitalen Fortsatze von zwei männlichen Skeletten. Arch. Pathol. Anat. Physiol. Klin. Med. 69:387-391.

Günsel, E. (1953) Ein grosser Processus styloideus an der Lendenwirbelsäule. Fortschr. Röntgenstr. 79:245-246.

Hrdlicka, A. (1942) The scapula: Visual observations. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 29:73-94.

Hrdlicka, A. (1942) The adult scapula. Additional observations and measurements. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 29:363-415.

Ingersoll, R.E. (1945) Congenital elevation of the scapulae with bilateral omovertebral bones. New York J. Med. 45:1462-1463.

Kajava, Y. (1924) Über den Schultergürtel der Finnen. Ann. Acad. Sci. Fenn, Series A. 21(5):1-69.

Kuhns, J.G. (1945) Variations in the vertebral border of the scapula: Their relation to muscular function. Physiotherapy Res. 25:207-210.

LaGrange, -. (1882) Anomalie dans le squelette de l'épaule droite. Ossification independante de l'acromion. Bulletins et Mem. de la Société Anatomique de Paris LVII(6):339-340.

Macalister, A. (1893) Notes on the acromion. J. Anat. Physiol. 27:245-251.

Miessen, E. (1936-37). Ein Fall von doppelseitiger Gelenkbildung zwischen Clavicula und Processus coracoides. Anat. Anz. 83:392-394.

Neumann, W. (1917-18) Über das "Os acromiale." Fortschr. Röntgenstr. 25:180-191.

De Neureiter, F. (1924) Contributions a l'étude de l'omoplate scaphoïde. Soc. Biol. Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Séances et Mémoires. 90:1123-1124.

Olivier, G. and R. Raou. (1952) La facette sous-acromiale. Assoc. Anatomistes Comptes Rendus 39:747-750.

Owen, F. (1953) Bilateral glenoid hypoplasia. Report of five cases. J. Bone joint Surg. (Br.) 35:262-267.

Poirer, P. (1887) Os acromial. Bull. Soc. Anat., Paris. 62:881-882.

Poirer, P. and A. charpy. (1911) Traité d'Anatomie Humaine. 3rd ed. Paris.

Ravelli, A. (1956) Persistierende Apophyse am Proc. coracoides. Fortschr. Röntgenstr. 84:500-502.

Schär, W. and C. Zweifel. (1936) Os acromiale und seine klinische Bedeutung. Beitr. Klin. Chir. 164:101.

Schlyvitch, B. (1937-38) Über den Articulus coracoclavicularis. Anat. Anz. 85:89-93.

Seib, G.A. (1938) The m. pectoralis minor in American Whites and American Negroes. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 23:389-419.

Struthers, J. (1895-1896) On separate acromion process simulating fracture. Edinburgh Med. J. 41:900-908, 1088-1104; 42:97-114, 289-297.

Symington, J. (1899) Separate acromion process. J. Anat. Physiol. 34:287-294.

Vallois, H.V. (1925) L'os acromial dans les races humaine. L'Anthropologie, Paris. 35:977-122.

Vallois, H.V. (1926) Variations de la cavité glenoïde de l'omoplate. Soc. de Biol., Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Séances et mémoires. 94:559-560.

Vallois, H.V. (1926 a) Les anomalies de l'omoplate chez l'homme. Bull. Soc. Anthrop., Paris. 7:20-37.

Vallois, H.V. (1926 b) Variations de l'echancrure coracoidienne de l'omoplate. Ann. Anat. Pathol. 3:411-413.

Vallois, H.V. (1932) L'omoplate humaine. Bull. Soc. Anthrop., Paris. 3:3-153.

Vallois, H.M. (1932) L'omoplate humaine. Bull. et Mém. de la Soc. d'Anthrop. de Paris. 7:16-100.

Vallois, H.V. (1946) L'omoplate humaine. étude anatomique et anthropologique. Bull. et Mém. de la Soc. d'Anthrop. de Paris.

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