Which bone is the shoulder blade?

Which bone is the shoulder blade?

• A. Cranium
• B. Mandible
• C. Ribs
• D. Scapula

Answer: (D)

Identifying the scapula as the shoulder blade. The scapula is a flat, triangular bone on the back of the rib cage that forms part of the pectoral girdle. It provides the glenoid cavity that articulates with the head of the humerus to make the shoulder joint, and it connects to the clavicle at the acromion to enable a wide range of arm movements. It sits over the upper ribs and is stabilized mainly by muscles rather than a direct bony attachment to the spine. The other options refer to different structures: the cranium is the skull, the mandible is the jawbone, and the ribs form the rib cage.

Identifying the scapula as the shoulder blade. The scapula is a flat, triangular bone on the back of the rib cage that forms part of the pectoral girdle. It provides the glenoid cavity that articulates with the head of the humerus to make the shoulder joint, and it connects to the clavicle at the acromion to enable a wide range of arm movements. It sits over the upper ribs and is stabilized mainly by muscles rather than a direct bony attachment to the spine. The other options refer to different structures: the cranium is the skull, the mandible is the jawbone, and the ribs form the rib cage.