The term "spina scapulae" refers to the spine or ridge of the scapula bone in the shoulder. The spelling of this word is derived from Latin, where "spina" means "spine" or "thorn," while "scapulae" refers to the scapula bones. To phonetically transcribe this term, we can use the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) symbols. It would be written as /ˈspaɪ.nə skəˈpju.laɪ/ in IPA transcription. This term is commonly used in anatomy and medical fields to describe the structure of the shoulder blade.
Spina scapulae, also known as the scapular spine, is a prominent ridge-like bony structure found on the posterior (back) surface of the scapula or shoulder blade. The word "spina" is derived from the Latin term for "thorn" or "spine," while "scapulae" refers to the plural form of the Latin word for "shoulder blade."
The spina scapulae runs diagonally across the scapula, extending from the superior angle (uppermost point) to the inferior angle (lowermost point). It divides the posterior surface of the scapula into two regions: the supraspinous fossa above it and the infraspinous fossa below it. This ridge-like structure acts as an attachment point for several muscles, most notably the trapezius and deltoid muscles.
The spina scapulae serves multiple functions. It provides a bony prominence for the attachment of muscles involved in movements of the shoulder joint, such as lifting the arm and rotating it outward. Additionally, it helps protect the underlying structures of the scapula, such as blood vessels and nerves, from potential injuries or trauma.
In summary, the spina scapulae is a prominent bony ridge found on the back surface of the scapula. Its purpose is to provide attachment sites for muscles involved in shoulder movements and to protect the underlying structures of the scapula.
The prominent triangular ridge on the dorsal aspect of the scapula.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "spina scapulae" consists of two Latin terms: "spina" and "scapulae".
1. "Spina": This word translates to "spine" in English. It derives from the Latin verb "spinare", which means "to prick" or "to puncture". In anatomy, "spina" refers to various thorn-like or spiny structures in the body.
2. "Scapulae": This term translates to "shoulder blades" in English. It comes from the plural form of the Latin word "scapula", which originally meant "shoulder" or "shoulder blade". The word shares its root with the Latin verb "scapulare", which means "to shoulder" or "to bear".