Shoulder, Posterior View

Description

Posterior surface anatomy of the shoulder region is presented on a Black adult female figure with the arms held slightly abducted, placing the posterior deltoid in clear relief over the glenohumeral joint. Superolateral bony contours include the acromion of the scapula and the lateral end of the clavicle, forming the acromioclavicular region just superior to the deltoid’s origin. Inferior and medial to the acromion, the scapular spine and infraspinous fossa define the posterior scapula, with the posterior axillary fold marking the lateral border as it descends toward the proximal arm. Bilateral shoulder highlights in blue draw attention to this complex, where superficial deltoid overlies the deeper rotator cuff. Posterior viewing matters because pain and dysfunction often localize to structures you cannot palpate from the front, particularly the rotator cuff and posterior capsule of the glenohumeral joint. This angle supports teaching of impingement patterns under the acromion, posterior shoulder tightness that contributes to glenohumeral internal rotation deficit in overhead athletes, and common injection targets such as the posterior glenohumeral approach and the subacromial space. Landmarks are the point. Acromion position relative to the humeral head also frames discussion of acromioclavicular joint sprain and scapular dyskinesis. Use this asset in gross anatomy and kinesiology courses to orient students to posterior shoulder landmarks, deltoid fiber direction, and scapular topography during abduction. It also fits sports medicine or orthopedics teaching decks covering rotator cuff tendinopathy, posterior labral pathology, and shoulder injection anatomy, as well as patient education materials where accurate skin tone representation matters. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.