Superior angle of 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, as described on this page
• the inferior angle of the scapula, and
• the anterior angle of the scapula (also known as the lateral angle of the scapula), which forms the 'head of the scapula' including an articulatory surface called the glenoid cavity that articulates with the head of humerus (upper-arm bone), forming the shoulder joint.

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 superior angle of the scapula bone is located at the point on the upper surface of the scapula where the vertebral border, which is also called the "medial border" (of the scapula) meets the superior border (of the scapula). It is a thin, smooth, rounded angle that is slightly inclined laterally i.e. towards the sides right/left of the body rather than inwards towards the vertebral column.

The superior angle of the scapula forms the point of insertion of the levator scapula (muscle, pl. levator scapulae) whose functions, or 'actions' include a combination of raising the the scapula and / or rotating the head and / or tilting the head to the side.

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.