Clavicle (collarbone)
Clavicula
The clavicle is the collarbone. It is a slender, S-shaped bone that lies across the top of the chest and connects the breastbone to the shoulder blade.
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Free 3D model of the clavicle. Right arm. Drag to rotate, zoom with + and − (or Ctrl + scroll), click a bone to highlight and name it.
Key points
- The clavicle is the collarbone, a horizontal bone at the top of the chest.
- It is the only bony link between the arm and the rest of the skeleton.
- Its inner end meets the breastbone and its outer end meets the acromion of the scapula.
- It acts as a strut that holds the shoulder out to the side.
What is the clavicle?
The clavicle, or collarbone, is one of the two bones of the shoulder girdle. The other is the scapula. Its name comes from the Latin for "little key".
It is classed as a long bone, although it is unusual for one. It lies horizontally, and it is the first bone of the body to begin turning from soft tissue into bone before birth.
Where is the clavicle?
It lies just under the skin at the base of the neck, running from the notch at the top of the breastbone out to the tip of the shoulder. It passes over the first rib.
You can feel the whole bone. Place a finger in the hollow at the base of your throat and move it sideways. The firm ridge under the skin is the clavicle, and you can follow it all the way to the bony point of the shoulder.
What are the parts of the clavicle?
The clavicle has a shaft and two ends. The sternal end, nearest the midline, is thick and roughly triangular. The acromial end, at the shoulder, is broad and flat.
The shaft has a double curve. The inner two-thirds bow forward and the outer third bows backward, which gives the bone its S shape. The top surface is smooth. The underside is rougher and carries a groove for a small muscle and two marks, the conoid tubercle and the trapezoid line, where ligaments from the scapula attach.
What does the clavicle articulate with?
It has a joint at each end. At the outer end, the acromioclavicular joint links it to the acromion, the shelf of the scapula that forms the tip of the shoulder. The model shows this joint.
At the inner end, the sternoclavicular joint links it to the manubrium, the top part of the breastbone. This is the only joint between the upper limb and the trunk. The arm model has no rib cage, so the inner end appears free.
What attaches to the clavicle?
Several large muscles attach along it. Pectoralis major and the deltoid arise from its front edge. The trapezius attaches to the back of its outer part, and sternocleidomastoid, the strap-like muscle of the neck, arises from its inner part.
The strongest ligament of the region, the coracoclavicular ligament, ties the underside of the clavicle to the coracoid process of the scapula. It is what keeps the scapula hanging from the clavicle.
What does the clavicle do?
It works as a strut that props the shoulder away from the chest. This lets the arm swing clear of the trunk and gives the shoulder its full range of movement.
It also passes force from the arm to the trunk, and it forms a bony roof over the large vessels and nerves that run from the neck to the arm.
Common problems with the clavicle
The clavicle is one of the most commonly broken bones. Most clavicle fractures occur in the middle third of the shaft, typically after a fall onto the shoulder or onto an outstretched hand.
A blow to the point of the shoulder can instead injure the acromioclavicular joint, which is known as a shoulder separation. The outer end of the clavicle may then stand up as a visible bump. This page describes anatomy only.
Common questions
Is the clavicle the same as the collarbone?
Yes. Clavicle is the anatomical name and collarbone is the everyday name.
Why is the clavicle S-shaped?
Its inner part curves forward and its outer part curves backward. The curves make room for the vessels and nerves passing beneath it to the arm.
Is the clavicle a long bone?
Yes, it is classed as a long bone, even though it lies horizontally and is shorter than the other long bones of the limb.
How many clavicles are there?
Two, one on each side.
Is this 3D model of the clavicle free?
Yes. The interactive 3D model on this page is free to view and use for study, with no account or download needed. Its geometry comes from the open BodyParts3D data set (CC BY-SA).
About this free 3D model of the clavicle
The interactive 3D model on this page is free to use in your browser, with no sign-up. It is built from scan-based anatomy data, so every bone is a separate, correctly placed shape you can turn and inspect from any side.