The Posterior Surface Of The Scapula In Posterior View

Description

Posteriorly, the scapula lies against the posterolateral thoracic wall, its dorsal surface divided by the scapular spine into the supraspinous fossa superiorly and the infraspinous fossa inferiorly. The animation tracks across the spine from medial border toward the lateral angle, where the spine expands into the acromion, continuous with the superior aspect of the glenoid region. Along the periphery, the medial (vertebral) border remains medial, the lateral (axillary) border descends toward the inferior angle, and the superior border frames the root of the spine. Subtle rotation and parallax help separate bony contours that often collapse in a single still. These landmarks anchor both function and pain patterns around the shoulder girdle. Clinicians correlate tenderness over the spine and acromion with acromioclavicular joint injury, and use the infraspinous fossa as a surface guide to the infraspinatus muscle and its tendon, commonly involved in rotator cuff tears. Seeing the scapula shift in perspective clarifies how the supraspinous and infraspinous fossae cup their respective muscles, and why posterior fractures or exostoses can irritate the overlying infraspinatus fascia or suprascapular nerve near the spinoglenoid region. Clean bony anatomy. No distraction. Use this animation in gross anatomy labs, kinesiology and shoulder biomechanics lectures, or as a figure build for orthopedic and sports medicine texts describing scapular dyskinesis, posterior approach landmarks, or acromial morphology. It also fits patient education on posterior shoulder pain when paired with rotator cuff or acromioclavicular pathology content. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.