Posterior Surface Of The Scapula, Lateral View

Description

Scapula anatomy dominates the frame from a lateral perspective that favors the dorsal surface and the contour of the shoulder blade against the thoracic side of the shoulder girdle. The scapular spine runs obliquely across the posterior surface, separating the supraspinous fossa superiorly from the larger infraspinous fossa inferiorly, with the lateral end of the spine expanding toward the acromion. Lateral to the fossae, the thickened lateral (axillary) border tracks toward the region of the glenoid cavity, while the medial (vertebral) border and inferior angle sit more posterior and medial in the field. Bony relief is easy to read. Rotator cuff teaching benefits from this specific emphasis on fossae and spine because the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles take broad origins from these depressions and converge laterally toward the greater tubercle of the humerus, so learners can connect surface topography with tendon direction and subacromial relationships. Orthopedic correlation is immediate: scapular spine fractures and acromial stress fractures can alter deltoid and trapezius mechanics, and the posterior landmarks help orient surgical planning for posterior shoulder approaches that work around the spine, acromion, and lateral border. The lateral viewpoint also supports discussion of the spinoglenoid region, a common site referenced when considering suprascapular nerve entrapment patterns affecting infraspinatus bulk. Use this illustration in gross anatomy and kinesiology courses when you need a single, stable posterior scapular reference for muscle attachment mapping, palpation landmarks, and scapulothoracic rhythm diagrams. It also suits sports medicine slide decks, orthopedic textbooks, and preoperative counseling materials describing posterior shoulder anatomy and scapular fracture patterns. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.