Scapulothoracic joint
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- updated 19 Jun 2022:
Nothing to disclose
Updates to Article Attributes
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was changed:
The scapulothoracic joint (also known as the scapulocostal joint) is a not an anatomical joint as it does not refer to two opposing bones, but to a physiological joint of the pectoral girdle. The scapula is held against the thoracic wall by many muscles and the strut of the clavicle secondarily attachingattaches it to the manubrium.
The scapulothoracic joint allows for the complex scapular movements in relation to the thoracic cage: elevation and depression, protraction and retraction, and medial and lateral rotation.
Movement
The scapulothoracic joint allows for six distinct movements facilitated by the following muscles:
elevation: upper fibres of trapezius and levator scapulae
-
passive: gravity (usually sufficient)
active: lower fibres of serratus anterior, and pectoralis minor
protraction: upper and middle fibres of serratus anterior and pectoralis minor
retraction: middle fibres of trapezius and rhomboids
lateral rotation: upper fibres of trapezius and lower fibres of serratus anterior
-
passive: gravity with controlled relaxation of trapezius and serratus anterior
active: levator scapulae and rhomboids
Related pathology
-<p>The <strong>scapulothoracic joint</strong> (also known as the<strong> scapulocostal joint</strong>) is a not an anatomical joint as it does not refer to two opposing bones, but to a physiological joint of the <a href="/articles/pectoral-girdle">pectoral girdle</a>. The <a href="/articles/subscapularis-muscle-2">scapula</a> is held against the thoracic wall by many muscles and the strut of the clavicle secondarily attaching it to the <a href="/articles/manubrium">manubrium</a>.</p><p>The scapulothoracic joint allows for the complex scapular movements in relation to the thoracic cage: elevation and depression, protraction and retraction, and medial and lateral rotation.</p><h4>Movement</h4><p>The scapulothoracic joint allows for six distinct movements facilitated by the following muscles:</p><ul>- +<p>The <strong>scapulothoracic joint</strong> (also known as the<strong> scapulocostal joint</strong>) is not an anatomical joint as it does not refer to two opposing bones, but to a physiological joint of the <a href="/articles/pectoral-girdle">pectoral girdle</a>. The <a href="/articles/subscapularis-muscle-2">scapula</a> is held against the thoracic wall by many muscles and the strut of the clavicle secondarily attaches it to the <a href="/articles/manubrium">manubrium</a>.</p><p>The scapulothoracic joint allows for complex scapular movements in relation to the thoracic cage: elevation and depression, protraction and retraction, and medial and lateral rotation.</p><h4>Movement</h4><p>The scapulothoracic joint allows for six distinct movements facilitated by the following muscles:</p><ul>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/scapular-elevation-1" title="Scapular elevation">elevation</a>: upper fibres of <a href="/articles/trapezius-muscle">trapezius</a> and <a href="/articles/levator-scapulae-muscle-1">levator scapulae</a></p></li>
-<a title="Scapular elevation" href="/articles/scapular-elevation-1">elevation</a>: upper fibres of <a href="/articles/trapezius-muscle">trapezius</a> and <a href="/articles/levator-scapulae-muscle-1">levator scapulae </a>-</li>-<li>-<a title="Scapular depression" href="/articles/scapular-depression-1">depression</a>:<ul>-<li>passive: gravity (usually sufficient)</li>-<li>active: lower fibres of <a href="/articles/serratus-anterior-muscle-1">serratus anterior</a>, and <a href="/articles/pectoralis-minor-muscle-1">pectoralis minor</a>-</li>- +<p><a href="/articles/scapular-depression-1" title="Scapular depression">depression</a>:</p>
- +<ul>
- +<li><p>passive: gravity (usually sufficient)</p></li>
- +<li><p>active: lower fibres of <a href="/articles/serratus-anterior-muscle-1">serratus anterior</a>, and <a href="/articles/pectoralis-minor-muscle-1">pectoralis minor</a></p></li>
-<li>-<a title="Scapular protraction" href="/articles/scapular-protraction">protraction</a>: upper and middle fibres of serratus anterior and pectoralis minor</li>-<li>-<a title="Scapular retraction" href="/articles/scapular-retraction">retraction</a>: middle fibres of trapezius and <a href="/articles/rhomboid-muscles">rhomboids</a>-</li>-<li>-<a title="Scapular lateral rotation" href="/articles/scapular-lateral-rotation">lateral rotation</a>: upper fibres of trapezius and lower fibres of serratus anterior</li>-<li>-<a title="Scapular medial rotation" href="/articles/scapular-medial-rotation">medial rotation</a><strong>:</strong><ul>-<li>passive: gravity with controlled relaxation of trapezius and serratus anterior</li>-<li>active: levator scapulae and rhomboids</li>- +<li><p><a href="/articles/scapular-protraction" title="Scapular protraction">protraction</a>: upper and middle fibres of serratus anterior and pectoralis minor</p></li>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/scapular-retraction" title="Scapular retraction">retraction</a>: middle fibres of trapezius and <a href="/articles/rhomboid-muscles">rhomboids</a></p></li>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/scapular-lateral-rotation" title="Scapular lateral rotation">lateral rotation</a>: upper fibres of trapezius and lower fibres of serratus anterior</p></li>
- +<li>
- +<p><a href="/articles/scapular-medial-rotation" title="Scapular medial rotation">medial rotation</a><strong>:</strong></p>
- +<ul>
- +<li><p>passive: gravity with controlled relaxation of trapezius and serratus anterior</p></li>
- +<li><p>active: levator scapulae and rhomboids</p></li>
-</ul>- +</ul><h4>Related pathology</h4><ul><li><p><a href="/articles/scapulothoracic-dissociation" title="Scapulothoracic dissociation">scapulothoracic dissociation </a></p></li></ul>
References changed:
- 2. Susan Standring. Gray’s anatomy: the anatomical basis of clinical practice. (2008) ISBN: 9780443066849 - <a href="http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN9780443066849">Google Books</a>
- 2. Gray, Henry, and S. Standring. "Gray’s anatomy: the anatomical basis of clinical practice, 40th edn. Churchill-Livingstone." (2008).
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