Clavicle

A long bone that connects the arm to the body and serves as a support structure for the shoulder.

The clavicle, commonly referred to as the collarbone, is a slender, S-shaped bone that sits horizontally across the upper chest. It acts as a critical link between the arm and the trunk. Each individual has two clavicles, one on the left side and one on the right, which function symmetrically to stabilize the shoulder girdle and facilitate upper limb movement.

Terminologia Anatomica

clavicula

System

Skeletal system

Function

The clavicle serves several essential roles in the body, primarily in providing structural support and facilitating movement. It acts as a strut for the shoulder, holding the scapula in place and allowing a wide range of motion at the shoulder joint. The clavicle also protects underlying neurovascular structures that run beneath it, such as nerves and blood vessels that serve the upper limb. Furthermore, it plays a pivotal role in absorbing forces applied to the arm during activities like lifting, pushing, or throwing, thereby helping to prevent injuries at the shoulder.

Location

Situated at the top of the thorax, the clavicles lie horizontally and extend from the sternum (breastbone) in the center of the chest to the acromion, which is the outer tip of the scapula (shoulder blade). Each clavicle lies just beneath the skin and is easily palpable, which makes it a prominent landmark of the shoulder region. The clavicles articulate medially with the sternum at the sternoclavicular joint and laterally with the scapula at the acromioclavicular joint, forming part of the shoulder girdle.

Did You Know?

A fractured clavicle is one of the most common injuries in sports and can occur from falls or direct blows to the shoulder.
The clavicle is one of the last bones to complete its growth, often finishing development in the early twenties.
In some cultures, the height of the clavicle is used as a reference point for assessing overall physical development.