Anatomical Structure And Location Of Acromial Facet Of The Clavicle

Description

Acromial facet of the clavicle occupies the flattened lateral extremity of the collarbone, forming an oval articular surface for the acromion of the scapula at the acromioclavicular (AC) joint. Along the superior aspect, the facet lies adjacent to the roughened area for the trapezius attachment, while the inferior surface transitions into the conoid tubercle and trapezoid line, the bony landmarks for the coracoclavicular ligaments. Medially, the articular surface gives way to the shaft of the clavicle, and laterally it faces the acromion across a narrow joint space. Orientation is the point. AC joint anatomy matters because small changes in alignment at this facet translate into clinically obvious shoulder girdle deformity, pain with cross-body adduction, and loss of scapular control. Osteoarthritis and post-traumatic arthrosis commonly develop at the acromial facet after repetitive loading, and distal clavicle osteolysis in weightlifters concentrates at the lateral end near the articular margin. In AC separations, the acromial facet helps you conceptualize why disruption of the acromioclavicular capsule causes local instability, while failure of the conoid and trapezoid components of the coracoclavicular ligament complex permits superior displacement of the clavicle and the classic step-off contour. Use this illustration in shoulder and upper limb anatomy teaching to anchor the difference between articular cartilage-bearing surfaces and adjacent ligamentous and muscular attachment zones on the lateral clavicle. It also fits orthopedic lecture slides and surgical texts discussing distal clavicle excision, AC joint reconstruction (for example, Weaver-Dunn variants), and the radiographic correlation between the distal clavicle and acromion on Zanca views. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.