scapula
Enable an agent to recognise a scapula, record its anatomical context and condition, and determine which observations or assessments its state warrants.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
recalled by Codex without web access - no source was read
Researched by: Codex
Purpose and description
Enable an agent to recognise a scapula, record its anatomical context and condition, and determine which observations or assessments its state warrants.
The scapula, or shoulder blade, is a paired bone of the shoulder girdle that in humans is a flat, roughly triangular bone on the posterior thorax, articulating with the humerus and clavicle and providing attachment sites for muscles that move and stabilize the shoulder.
It can be Identify and orient a scapula or scapular fragment using documented landmarks.; Annotate scapular regions and attach observations to the corresponding specimen or image.; Measure scapular and glenoid geometry using explicit landmarks and reference frames.; Compare left and right scapulae or repeated observations while accounting for maturity, posture and acquisition method.; Map scapular articulating surfaces and attachment regions to neighbouring anatomical models.; Flag uncertain identification or abnormal observations for appropriate anatomical or clinical review..
Distinguishing features
In human anatomy, the scapula is a broad, approximately triangular bone with a glenoid cavity at its lateral angle; the clavicle is an elongated bone without this blade-and-socket arrangement.
A prominent spine divides the posterior surface of the human scapular body into supraspinous and infraspinous fossae, distinguishing it from an isolated flat bone identified only by outline.
The human acromion continues from the scapular spine, whereas the coracoid is a separate projecting process; these relationships help distinguish complete scapulae from fragments or neighbouring bones.
The glenoid cavity belongs to the scapula and receives the humeral head; a rounded humeral head is therefore a neighbouring element rather than part of the scapula.
The scapula is one component of the shoulder girdle, not a synonym for the shoulder joint or the entire shoulder region.
Scope
+ Species, individual association, laterality and developmental context of a scapula
+ Scapular body, surfaces, borders, angles and identifiable processes
+ Glenoid region and anatomical relationships to neighbouring shoulder structures
+ Muscle and ligament attachment regions on the scapula
+ Observed morphology, integrity and position, with evidence and measurement context
- The organism or taxon to which the scapula belongs
- Complete models of the humerus, clavicle, ribs and sternum
- Whole-muscle, tendon and ligament anatomy beyond their scapular attachments
- Whole-shoulder movement, neuromuscular control and functional performance
- Diagnosis and treatment protocols for shoulder disorders
- Scapular implants, surgical instruments and prosthetic substitutes as manufactured objects
Characteristics
- Anatomical context
- Species or taxon; associated individual or specimen; evidence supporting association Landmark interpretation and expected morphology depend on the organism, while specimen association prevents observations from different individuals being merged.
- Laterality
- Left; right; indeterminate, with orientation evidence Side identification is necessary for pairing, comparison and correct interpretation of imaging or specimens.
- Developmental maturity
- Observed ossification and fusion state by region; unknown where unassessed Developmental features affect shape and can complicate interpretation of apparent discontinuities.
- Scapular dimensions
- Millimetres for explicitly defined landmark-to-landmark distances; method and uncertainty recorded Size comparisons are meaningful only when the same anatomical endpoints and measurement methods are used.
- Glenoid morphology and orientation
- Dimensions in millimetres and orientation in degrees relative to a named reference frame The glenoid provides the scapular articular interface with the humerus, and its measurements depend strongly on reference conventions.
- Landmark configuration
- Presence, form and observability of the spine, acromion, coracoid, fossae, borders and angles, interpreted by species The arrangement of landmarks supports identification and distinguishes variation from missing or unobservable anatomy.
- Structural integrity
- Observed continuity, defects, fragmentation, deformation and surface changes by anatomical region; unassessed where applicable Regional observations support condition assessment without prematurely assigning a diagnosis or cause.
- Scapular pose
- Position and orientation relative to a named thoracic or laboratory frame, with posture and observation time Pose is contextual and must be distinguished from the bone's intrinsic shape.
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 5 bundles · 9 layers · 15 findings · 23 questions.
Scapular identity and boundaries Establishes which skeletal element is represented and how its biological and anatomical boundaries are recognised.
A scapula must be distinguished from the whole shoulder girdle, neighbouring bones and incomplete specimens before its properties can be interpreted.
Biological and specimen context
Connects the scapula to an organism or specimen without treating the bone as an organism.
Context assignment
Record taxonomic and individual association at the level supported by evidence, including whether observations concern an in-body bone, isolated specimen or image representation.
- Which species and individual or specimen is this scapula associated with, and what supports that association? provenance
- Does the record describe the anatomical bone, an isolated fragment or a representation of it? boundary
Side and element recognition
Uses landmark relationships to identify the scapula and determine its side.
Landmark-based identification
Identify the skeletal element and laterality from observable landmark relationships, retaining uncertainty when the specimen is incomplete.
- Which observable combination of glenoid region, scapular blade, spine and processes supports identification as a scapula in this species? definition
- Can the glenoid-facing direction and anterior-posterior surface orientation establish left or right laterality? measurement
Scapular topography and geometry Describes the blade, landmarks and articular geometry using reproducible anatomical references.
Scapular identification and comparison depend on the spatial arrangement of its blade, spine, processes and glenoid rather than on a generic size description.
Blade surfaces and landmarks
Locates surfaces, fossae, borders, angles and projecting processes.
Regional landmark map
Maintain an annotated map of observable landmarks, distinguishing true absence from damage, incomplete coverage and uncertain recognition.
- Which scapular surfaces, fossae, borders, angles and processes can be identified in the available evidence? measurement
- For an apparently missing landmark, is the region anatomically absent, damaged or outside the observation coverage? boundary
Blade and glenoid measurement
Defines measurement endpoints and reference frames for scapular size and glenoid geometry.
Reproducible scapular geometry
Record dimensions and angles together with landmark definitions, image or specimen methods and uncertainty.
- Which landmarks define the reported scapular height, width and glenoid dimensions? measurement
- Which coordinate frame and convention define glenoid orientation, and how does incomplete anatomy affect the estimate? measurement
Scapular anatomical interfaces Locates the scapula's articular and soft-tissue interfaces and links them to neighbouring structures.
The scapula supports shoulder relationships through distinct surfaces and attachment regions whose roles cannot be represented by an undifferentiated connection list.
Articular and thoracic relations
Separates joint surfaces from the scapula's relationship to the thoracic wall.
Scapular interface classification
In the human reference, distinguish the glenoid-humeral and acromial-clavicular articular interfaces from the scapulothoracic relationship, which is not a direct bony synovial articulation.
- Which scapular surfaces participate in articulations with the humerus and clavicle in the species being represented? definition
- Which observations belong to the scapular surface itself, and which describe the joint or intervening tissues? boundary
Muscle and ligament attachment regions
Maps attachment locations without absorbing complete muscle or ligament models.
Attachment-site attribution
Associate named muscles and ligaments with documented scapular regions, distinguishing observed tissue attachment from a reference-anatomy attribution.
- Which muscle or ligament attaches to each annotated scapular region according to an appropriate anatomical source? provenance
- Is the attachment directly observed in this specimen, or inferred from reference anatomy? provenance
Scapular state and interpretation Records developmental state, structural observations and contextual position while preserving limits on interpretation.
Development, damage and posture can produce different explanations for an unusual scapular appearance and require distinct evidence.
Development and structural integrity
Documents regional maturity and physical condition before assigning causes.
Regional condition evidence
Locate continuity changes, deformation and other surface or internal observations, considering developmental anatomy and specimen history as possible explanatory contexts.
- What ossification or fusion features are visible, and what species-appropriate reference supports their interpretation? provenance
- Where are discontinuities or deformities observed, and what evidence distinguishes developmental features, injury, specimen damage and imaging artefact? measurement
Pose, comparison and review
Controls interpretation of scapular position and comparisons across observations.
Contextual scapular assessment
Attach posture and acquisition context to positional observations, and use unresolved discrepancies to guide further assessment rather than infer a diagnosis from appearance alone.
- What arm position, body posture and reference frame accompanied the observed scapular pose? measurement
- Would resolving the uncertainty require another view, a comparable contralateral observation or specialist review? action
Evidence and external alignment What the world already says about this thing, gathered so the model can be checked against it.
A model that cannot be lined up against existing standards, identifiers and practice cannot be adopted by anyone who already uses them.
Reported evidence
Findings from the breadth pass, kept separate from the structural claims.
Check these first
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- The entry is interpreted as an anatomical structure, not an organism; the description primarily covers normal adult human anatomy.
- Scapular form and its connections differ across vertebrate groups, so the human description should not be generalized without comparative anatomical review.
- No sources were consulted; numerical dimensions and terminology codes are omitted rather than recalled uncertainly.
- Which of these check these first hold for the sense of scapula this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Kinds and varieties
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Left scapula
- Right scapula
- Which of these kinds and varieties hold for the sense of scapula this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Identifiers and schemes
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Terminologia Anatomica - scapula - Latin anatomical name; no numerical terminology identifier is asserted here.
- Which of these identifiers and schemes hold for the sense of scapula this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Standards and regulation
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Terminologia Anatomica, maintained by the Federative International Programme for Anatomical Terminology (FIPAT), standardizes human anatomical names.
- Which of these standards and regulation hold for the sense of scapula this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Real-world use
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Provides the glenoid cavity that articulates with the humeral head at the shoulder joint.
- Connects with the clavicle through the acromioclavicular joint.
- Provides attachment sites for muscles including the rotator cuff, serratus anterior and trapezius.
- Moves over the thoracic wall to help position the arm during reaching and overhead movement.
- Serves as an anatomical landmark in physical examination, imaging and surgery.
- Which of these real-world use hold for the sense of scapula this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Failure modes and hazards
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Scapular fractures can involve the body, neck, glenoid, acromion or coracoid process.
- Glenoid fractures can disrupt joint congruity and contribute to shoulder instability.
- Scapular winging can result from dysfunction of stabilizing muscles or their nerves; it does not necessarily indicate damage to the bone.
- Abnormal scapular movement can accompany shoulder pain or dysfunction, but observation alone does not establish its cause.
- Which of these failure modes and hazards hold for the sense of scapula this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- clavicle - The clavicle is the elongated bone connecting the scapula to the sternum; the scapula is the broad bone bearing the glenoid cavity.
- humerus - The humerus is the long bone of the upper arm whose head articulates with the scapula.
- shoulder girdle - The shoulder girdle is the skeletal assembly that includes the scapula and clavicle, rather than a single bone.
- glenoid cavity - The glenoid cavity is the articular socket on the scapula, not the whole bone.
- acromion - The acromion is a projection continuous with the scapular spine, not a separate bone in typical adult anatomy.
- Which of these neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart hold for the sense of scapula this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
What the second pass must settle
- Does registry entry vr.tr.scapula intend the human scapula specifically or the homologous skeletal element across vertebrate taxa?
- Which anatomical terminology authority and comparative references should govern landmark names and species-dependent differences?
- Which measurement protocols should define scapular dimensions and glenoid orientation so observations remain comparable?
- Which developmental references and population-specific variation data are needed to interpret unfused regions and unusual process morphology?
- Does an existing Vercy bone or shoulder-girdle model already own shared concepts that this scapula model should reference?