The coracoid process is a thick, curved projection of

bone that projects anteriorly, superiorly, and medially from

12 Systems Anatomy

FIGURE 1.8. Right scapula, lateral view,

showing glenoid cavity and profile of coracoid process, acromion, and body.

FIGURE 1.9. A: Anterior view of the right scapula showing the standard terminology of the

anatomic regions. B: Posterior view of the right scapula showing terminology and general measurements. The measurements include [1] the maximum length of the scapula; [2] the width of the

scapula measured to the posterior rim of the glenoid; [3] the width of the scapula measured to the

anterior rim of the glenoid (also shown in Fig. 1-9C); [4] the inferior scapular angle; [5] the anteroposterior thickness of the medial border of the scapula measured halfway along the medial edge

of the scapula and 1 cm from the edge; and [6] the distance from the superior rim of the glenoid

to the base of the suprascapular notch. The measurement values are shown in Table 1.1. C: The

right scapula (superior view as shown in the inset) showing the measurement of the spine. The

measurements include [7] the length of the scapular spine measured from the medial edge of the

scapula where it meets with the scapular spine to the lateral edge of the acromion; [8] the distance

from the medial edge of the scapula where it meets with the scapular spine to the edge of the spinoglenoid notch; [9] the anteroposterior width of the spine measured 1 cm from the medial edge

of the scapula; [10] the anteroposterior width of the spine measured 4 cm from the medial edge

of the scapula; [11] the anteroposterior width of the spine at the lateral edge (spinoglenoid notch);

and [12] the anteroposterior thickness of the acromial neck at its thinnest diameter. Also shown is

measurement [3], which is the width of the scapula measured on the anterior surface. The measurement values are shown in Table 1.1. D: Scapular measurements of the length [13], width [14],

and thickness [15] of the acromion, and the coracoacromial distance [16], as seen from the superior

view of the right scapula. The measurement values are shown in Table 1.1.

(continued on next page)

A B

C D

14 Systems Anatomy

FIGURE 1.9. (continued) E: Lateral view of the right scapula, showing the

coracoacromial distance [16], the minimal distance between coracoid and

acromion [17], and the dimensions of the glenoid fossa [18–20]. The measurement values are shown in Table 1.1. F: Measurements of the thickness of the

scapular head [21,22] and glenoid tilt angle [23] as seen from the inferior view

of the right scapula. The measurement values are shown in Table 1.1. G: Dimensions of the coracoid process of the right scapula as seen from the anterior

view. Measurements include the length of the coracoid from the tip of the

coracoid to the point at which the coracoid angulates inferiorly [24]; the coracoid thickness measured in the superoinferior direction 1 cm from the tip of the

coracoid [25]; and the distance from the tip of the coracoid to the base of the

suprascapular notch [26]. The measurement values are shown in Table 1.1.

(From Von Schroeder HP, Kuiper SD, Botte MJ. Osseous anatomy of the scapula.

Clin Orthop 383:131–139, 2001.)

E F

G

TABLE 1.1. MEASUREMENTS OF THE SCAPULA

All Female Male

Sex

Measurementa Figure Average SD Min Max Average SD Min Max Average SD Min Max Difference

General measurements

1 Length of scapula 1-9B 155.0 16.0 127 179 140.8 11.9 127 160 166.4 11.4 143 179 b

2 Post. glenoid–med. scapula distance 1-9B 106.0 8.5 92 122 99.0 3.4 92 103 112.3 5.7 101 122 b

3 Ant. glenoid–med. scapula distance 1-9B,C 106.9 9.7 89 126 98.9 4.5 89 106 113.4 7.8 99 126 b

4 Inferior angle (degrees) 1-9B 36.1 2.5 30 42 34.8 2.1 30 38 36.4 1.6 34 39 b

5 Thickness of medial edge 1-9B 3.8 0.7 3 5 3.6 0.7 3 5 3.9 0.7 3 5 NS

6 Superior glenoid to notch 1-9B 31.8 2.9 28 39 30.6 2.3 28 34 32.6 2.4 29 38 b

Scapular spine

7 Length of spine 1-9C 133.6 11.8 113 153 124.8 5.9 115 136 140.9 10.0 123 153 b

8 Length of base of spine 1-9C 85.5 8.7 71 101 78.5 5.4 71 88 91.1 6.6 78 101 b

9 Spine thickness at 1 cm 1-9C 7.3 1.2 6 10 7.3 1.4 6 10 7.2 1.3 6 10 NS

10 Spine thickness at 4 cm 1-9C 17.9 3.2 11 26 17.0 3.1 11 21 18.3 3.8 14 26 NS

11 Spine thickness laterally 1-9C 46.1 6.3 38 59 41.2 2.2 38 44 50.9 4.9 41 59 b

Acromion

12 Acromial neck diameter 1-9C 13.5 2.2 10 18 12.1 1.0 10 14 14.2 1.7 10 17 b

13 AP length of acromion 1-9D 48.0 5.1 38 57 43.6 3.6 38 51 50.9 3.5 44 57 b

14 ML width of acromion 1-9D 21.9 3.7 15 27 20.4 2.2 17 23 22.6 4.6 15 27 NS

15 Thickness of acromion 1-9D 9.4 1.1 8 12 8.7 0.8 8 10 9.8 0.9 8 11 b

16 Coracoacromial distance 1-9D,E 27.1 4.5 22 39 24.6 2.5 22 29 28.7 5.2 24 39 b

Glenoid and head of scapula

17 Superior glenoid-acromial distance 1-9E 15.5 1.8 13 19 14.9 1.8 13 19 16.1 1.5 14 19 NS

18 AP diameter of glenoid 1-9E 28.6 3.3 25 34 25.8 0.9 25 27 30.9 3.1 25 34 b

19 Diameter of glenoid to notch 1-9E 26.0 2.9 22 32 23.6 0.9 22 25 27.8 3.0 23 32 b

20 SI length of glenoid 1-9E 36.4 3.6 30 43 33.6 1.7 30 36 38.0 3.3 32 42 b

21 Thickness of head at 1 cm 1-9F 22.0 3.5 17 30 19.4 2.2 17 24 24.7 2.8 21 30 b

22 Thickness of head at 2 cm 1-9F 12.9 3.0 8 18 11.0 1.8 8 14 14.5 3.2 8 18 b

23 Glenoid tilt angle (degrees) 1-9F 7.9 3.7 0 17 8.1 3.6 0 14 8.0 3.0 3 13 NS

Coracoid process