Shoulder

The majority of my time last week was spent learning about the shoulders.  At first glance they appear to be relatively simple but upon further investigation I found the bones and muscles to be very complex.  It’s interesting how the clavicle and scapula work together to support and attach the arm.  I find the human body impressive when I think about all the components working together to create a simple movement.  The idea of being able to move is often taken for granted.  If you take time to think about the components like bones, muscles, and tendons that work together you soon notice that the human body is an impressive machine.

The clavicle is often referred to as the collarbone and serves as a support beam between the scapula and the sternum.  It’s an interesting bone because it lies horizontally.  It makes up part of the shoulder and is often visible because it creates a bulge under the skin.  It’s arrangement keeps the upper limb away from the thorax and this allows the arm to have a wide range of movement.  It also allows the scapula to move freely and transmit physical impacts from the upper limb to the axial skeleton.

The scapula is commonly referred to as the shoulder blade, and connects the upper arm to the clavicle.  This bone is relatively flat and roughly triangular in shape.  The scapula is an important bone that allows upper limb movement and stability.  This bone is sturdy and well protected by muscles so it is rarely broken.  It serves as a broad plate and helps with the anchoring of muscles of the upper body.

These bones are the foundation to my manikin’s clay muscles.   Aside from drawing and learning the function of the scapula and clavicle, a lot of my time was spent creating clay muscles.  It’s interesting to see how all the muscles are beginning to overlap each other.  Some of the muscles in the back are almost like sheets that overlap muscles that I constructed earlier in the semester.