Medial border of scapula
The medial border (of the scapula) is a structural feature on the scapula bone (also known as the shoulder blade or shoulder bone).
The medial border of the scapula is also known as the vertebral border of the scapula, the "internal border of the scapula" and sometimes as the "base (of the scapula)".
General context of the medial border of the scapula:
The scapula is a triangular bone.
Triangles have 3 angles and 3 sides.
The 3 angles of the scapula bone are located towards the upper, lower and lateral (= axillary) surfaces of the scapula. The 3 "sides" of the approximately triangular shape of the scapula bone are not straight (as per strict mathematical triangles) but are curved and are called "borders".
The 3 borders of the scapula are :
- the superior border of the scapula.
- the medial border of the scapula (also known as the vertebral border of the scapula), and
- the axillary border of the scapula (also known as the lateral border of the scapula).
As its name suggests, the medial border of the scapula is the edge of the scapula bone located towards the middle of the body (as opposed to the lateral - right or left - aspects). It is also known as the vertebral border because it is the closest edge of the scapula bone to the vertebral column.
The medial border of the scapula is the longest of the three borders of the scapula. It extends all the way along the long edge of the scapula bone from the superior angle of the scapula (= medial angle of scapula) to the inferior angle of the scapula. As shown in the diagram, the part of the medial border located above the spine of the scapula is angled outwards (away from the vertebral column) forming a marked angle in the shape of the medial border of the scapula at the location of the medial extreme of the spine of scapula.
The medial border of the scapula includes points of attachments of several major muscles of the upper body:
Part of Medial border of scapula |
Muscles attached |
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anterior lip |
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posterior lip |
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intermediate space |
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Part of Medial border of scapula |
Muscles attached |
anterior lip |
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posterior lip |
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intermediate space |
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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.
