Lateral angle of scapula
The lateral angle (of the scapula) is a structural feature on the scapula bone (also known as the shoulder blade or shoulder bone).
The lateral angle of the scapula is also known as the anterior angle of the scapula.
As can be seen from the photograph of the model of a scapula bone (part of a model of the human skeleton) on the right, the scapula bone is approximately trianglular. It is described as a 'flat, triangular bone' so one would expect it to have three 'angles'. They are:
- the superior angle of the scapula (also known as the medial angle of the scapula),
- the inferior angle of the scapula, and
- the anterior angle of the scapula - described on this page (which is also called the lateral angle of the scapula)
These three "angles" of the scapula are apparent from the two diagrams below and on the diagram of the 3 angles of the scapula bone.
The lateral angle of the scapula is at the thickest part of the scapula and forms a feature called the head of the scapula that includes the articular surface called the glenoid cavity. The head of the scapula is surrounded by a slightly depressed surface called the "neck" of the scapula which can be seen (but isn't labelled) in the following diagrams.
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
For more about this and related topics see the links to other features on the scapula bone listed on the left and the pages about the scapula bone and about bone markings and features on bones.
More about bones and features on bones:
- Structures and functions of bones (an overview about the skeletal system)
- Types of bones, such as long bones, short bones, flat bones, etc.
- Bone markings and features on bones of the human body
- Types of joints, such as immoveable, slightly moveable and freely moveable joints
- Diagram of the human skeleton
- Overview of types of conditions and disorders of the skeletal system
For further information see also books about orthopaedics.
