Conoid Tubercle Of The Clavicle, Inferior View

Description

Conoid tubercle (tuberculum conoideum) anchors the posteroinferior surface of the lateral third of the clavicle, positioned just medial to the acromial end and adjacent to the posterior border. From an inferior perspective, the clavicular shaft is appreciated as a gently curved strut with a broader medial (sternal) portion and a flatter lateral segment; the conoid tubercle projects as a rounded eminence on that lateral underside. Lateral and slightly anterior to it, the oblique trapezoid line (linea trapezoidea) can be inferred as the roughened ridge that continues toward the acromial extremity, while the costoclavicular impression lies more medially on the inferior surface. This is a key attachment site. Clinically, the conoid tubercle marks the clavicular insertion of the conoid ligament, the medial component of the coracoclavicular ligament complex, and its relationship to the trapezoid line helps teach how the coracoclavicular ligaments stabilize the acromioclavicular joint against superior displacement. That matters in Rockwood-type acromioclavicular separations and in distal clavicle fractures (Neer type II), where loss of coracoclavicular integrity allows the medial fragment to elevate while the lateral fragment remains tethered to the scapula. For operative planning, the fixed inferior viewpoint clarifies the bony topography surgeons reference when placing coracoclavicular buttons, suture anchors, or drill tunnels, minimizing malposition near the posterior border and avoiding unintended violation of the conoid footprint. Use this illustration in upper limb anatomy teaching (osteology of the pectoral girdle), orthopaedic textbooks covering AC joint trauma and distal clavicle fracture fixation, and surgical education materials describing coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction landmarks. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.