clavicle
Enable an agent to recognise a clavicle, record its anatomical identity and condition, and determine which observations or specialist assessments are needed before acting on it.
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 clavicle, record its anatomical identity and condition, and determine which observations or specialist assessments are needed before acting on it.
The clavicle, or collarbone, is a paired bone of the pectoral girdle that in humans connects the sternum to the scapula, supports shoulder positioning, and transmits forces from the upper limb to the axial skeleton.
It can be Identify and orient a clavicle using its ends, curvature, landmarks, and anatomical context.; Associate observations with the left or right clavicle of a documented individual or specimen.; Measure clavicular geometry and compare sides when compatible evidence exists.; Map alterations to the sternal end, shaft, or acromial end and document their relationship to joint and attachment interfaces.; Track structural change across dated observations while preserving uncertainty about cause.; Identify missing evidence and route unresolved identification or condition questions to an appropriate anatomical or clinical specialist..
Distinguishing features
In a typical human skeleton, the clavicle extends between the manubrium medially and the acromion laterally; a rib follows a thoracic relationship instead.
An intact typical human clavicle has an S-shaped shaft with a bulkier sternal end and a flatter acromial end, unlike the broad plate of the scapula.
The conoid tubercle and trapezoid line on the inferior lateral region help establish orientation when preserved; no single landmark should determine a fragment's identity.
The clavicle forms part of the pectoral girdle rather than the upper arm: its lateral articulation is with the acromion, not the elbow or glenoid cavity.
Scope
+ Species, laterality, and identification of an individual clavicle
+ Sternal end, shaft, acromial end, and their anatomical landmarks
+ Articular and attachment interfaces that connect the clavicle to the shoulder girdle
+ Dimensions, developmental maturity, structural integrity, and remodelling
+ Evidence supporting identification and condition assessment in situ, on images, or as a specimen
- The whole organism, its taxonomy, or its conservation status
- The scapula, sternum, ribs, and humerus as independently modelled bones
- Sternoclavicular and acromioclavicular joints as complete joint systems
- Muscles, ligaments, nerves, and vessels beyond their relationships to the clavicle
- Fracture disorders, treatment protocols, and operative decisions as independent clinical models
- Implants and prostheses as manufactured devices
Characteristics
- Species attribution
- Named species; unresolved taxon; unknown Human shape, articulation, and functional assumptions cannot automatically be transferred to other animals.
- Laterality
- Left; right; indeterminate Prevents mismatched comparisons and requires orientation to be supported by preserved anatomy.
- Representation and completeness
- In situ; isolated bone; fragment; imaging representation; completeness described by region Controls which identification, measurement, and condition claims the available evidence can support.
- Clavicular length
- mm, with endpoints and straight-line or curved-path method recorded Supports comparison while preventing incompatible measurements from being treated as equivalent.
- Shaft curvature and torsion
- Angles in degrees or a documented three-dimensional shape descriptor Captures clavicular geometry relevant to orientation, comparison, and interpretation of deformity.
- End relationships
- Sternal end to manubrium; acromial end to acromion; observed alignment or relationship unknown Locates the bone within the shoulder girdle and separates bony observations from joint-level conclusions.
- Attachment landmarks
- Present; variably expressed; altered; absent from available material; not assessable Documents features such as the conoid tubercle, trapezoid line, subclavian groove, and costoclavicular impression without assuming identical expression.
- Developmental maturity
- Ossification and epiphyseal fusion observations, with anatomical location and assessment method Distinguishes developmental anatomy from acquired discontinuity without equating a fusion stage with an exact age.
- Structural integrity
- Intact; discontinuity observed; remodelling observed; focal alteration; indeterminate Supports condition assessment while keeping direct observations separate from diagnoses.
- Fragment displacement
- Translation or shortening in mm and angulation in degrees, with reference frame and method Makes an observed clavicular discontinuity describable without inferring management from a single measurement.
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: 6 bundles · 11 layers · 17 findings · 27 questions.
Clavicular identity Establishes what bone is represented and which anatomical assumptions apply.
Fragments, mirrored images, and nonhuman specimens can defeat identification based on a familiar collarbone silhouette.
Species and skeletal element
Separates identification as a clavicle from attribution to a species or individual.
Supported clavicle identification
Records the anatomical evidence for calling the material a clavicle and the basis for its species attribution.
- Which preserved features or in situ relationships distinguish this material from a rib, scapular fragment, or other bone? definition
- What specimen record, imaging context, or comparative reference supports the species attribution? provenance
Side and orientation
Establishes medial, lateral, superior, and inferior directions before assigning laterality.
Laterality evidence
Makes the assignment of a left or right clavicle traceable to landmarks and acquisition context.
- Which combination of end shape, shaft curvature, and inferior landmarks supports the proposed side? definition
- Could missing ends, deformity, or image mirroring make the laterality indeterminate? boundary
Clavicular geometry Describes the bone's regional form and measurable dimensions.
Clavicular curvature and unequal ends are central to recognition, and their measurements depend strongly on method.
Ends and shaft
Localises observations within the sternal end, shaft, and acromial end.
Regional form
Records which regions are preserved and how their morphology supports anatomical interpretation.
- Are the sternal end, shaft, and acromial end each preserved sufficiently to assess their shape? boundary
- Where along the clavicle does any flattening, enlargement, curvature change, or surface alteration occur? measurement
Dimensions and comparison
Makes length and shape comparisons reproducible.
Comparable clavicular measurements
Links each dimension to landmarks, scale, pose, and an explicit measurement method.
- Which endpoints and path define the reported clavicular length, and how was scale established? measurement
- Does comparison with the opposite clavicle or a reference sample account for projection, positioning, and natural asymmetry? boundary
Shoulder girdle interfaces Relates the clavicle to its articulations, attachments, and role in positioning the shoulder.
The clavicle's significance depends on its connections, while complete joint and soft-tissue assessments belong to neighbouring models.
Articular ends
Records the clavicular contributions to the sternoclavicular and acromioclavicular interfaces.
Articular surface and alignment
Separates observations of each bony end from conclusions about the corresponding joint.
- What is observable about the clavicular articular surfaces and their relationships to the manubrium and acromion? measurement
- Which conclusions about joint stability or motion require evidence beyond the clavicle itself? boundary
Attachments and support
Connects attachment landmarks to the clavicle's participation in shoulder girdle support.
Attachment interface evidence
Documents attachment regions without treating bony appearance as proof of soft-tissue integrity or function.
- Which coracoclavicular, costoclavicular, and muscular attachment regions can be identified on the available clavicle? definition
- What additional evidence is needed before relating an altered attachment region to impaired shoulder support? action
Development and variation Distinguishes developmental state and anatomical variation from acquired alteration.
Clavicular ossification and epiphyseal appearance can complicate interpretation, particularly near the medial end.
Ossification and fusion
Records visible maturity indicators without assigning unsupported chronological precision.
Observed maturity
Describes ossification and fusion features using an identified assessment method.
- What ossification or epiphyseal fusion features are visible, particularly at the sternal end? measurement
- Which species- and population-appropriate reference supports interpreting these observations as a maturity stage? provenance
Variant versus acquired form
Keeps unusual shape or continuity from being automatically labelled as injury.
Origin of unusual anatomy
Maintains competing developmental, anatomical, and acquired explanations when evidence is incomplete.
- Could the unusual clavicular shape or discontinuity reflect developmental anatomy, a congenital difference, or an acquired change? boundary
- Would prior imaging, contralateral comparison, or specialist review help distinguish these explanations? action
Integrity and change Records structural alterations and the evidence needed to interpret their significance.
A clavicle model must locate and track damage while avoiding unsupported diagnoses or treatment decisions.
Continuity and deformity
Describes discontinuity, displacement, and altered bone structure by clavicular region.
Localised structural alteration
Separates observable changes in cortex, alignment, or surface form from their proposed cause.
- Where is any discontinuity or focal alteration, and does it involve an articular end or attachment region? measurement
- How were any fragment translation, angulation, or shortening measured, and what limits their reliability? measurement
Remodelling and assessment
Tracks dated changes and identifies when interpretation requires broader evidence.
Longitudinal condition evidence
Connects observed callus, remodelling, or persistent discontinuity to a documented observation sequence.
- Which dated observations establish change in clavicular continuity, alignment, or remodelling? provenance
- What clinical context or specialist assessment is required before inferring healing status, functional capacity, or a permissible intervention? 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.
- This description assumes the human anatomical sense; clavicle presence, form, and connections vary among vertebrates.
- The clavicle is an anatomical structure, not an organism or taxon.
- Recalled anatomical knowledge only; no sources were consulted, and numerical measurements and identifiers requiring verification are omitted.
- Which of these check these first hold for the sense of clavicle 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 clavicle
- Right clavicle
- Which of these kinds and varieties hold for the sense of clavicle 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 - clavicula - Standard Latin anatomical name; no numerical identifier asserted.
- Which of these identifiers and schemes hold for the sense of clavicle 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 anatomical terminology.
- Which of these standards and regulation hold for the sense of clavicle this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Real-world use
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Anatomical landmark in shoulder examination and medical imaging.
- Attachment site for muscles and ligaments that position and stabilize the shoulder girdle.
- Bony strut that holds the shoulder away from the thorax.
- Route for transmitting mechanical loads from the upper limb to the trunk.
- Which of these real-world use hold for the sense of clavicle 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.
- Fracture, commonly involving the middle third of the bone.
- Delayed union, nonunion, or malunion after fracture.
- Displaced fractures can threaten overlying skin and, less commonly, nearby nerves or blood vessels.
- Acromioclavicular or sternoclavicular joint disruption can compromise the clavicle's supporting function.
- Posterior sternoclavicular dislocation can endanger structures within the upper chest.
- Which of these failure modes and hazards hold for the sense of clavicle 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.
- Scapula - The scapula is the broad shoulder blade bearing the glenoid cavity; the clavicle is the strut joining its acromion to the sternum.
- Sternum - The sternum is the midline anterior chest bone; each clavicle articulates with its manubrium.
- Humerus - The humerus is the upper-arm bone and articulates with the scapula, not directly with the clavicle.
- Pectoral girdle - The pectoral girdle is the larger skeletal assembly that includes the clavicles and scapulae in humans.
- Which of these neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart hold for the sense of clavicle this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
What the second pass must settle
- Does registry entry vr.tr.clavicle intend the human clavicle specifically or the homologous skeletal element across animal taxa?
- Which existing Vercy bone or shoulder girdle models should supply shared concepts without duplicating this registered thing?
- Which anatomical terminology and measurement references should govern regional boundaries, landmarks, curvature, and length?
- Which validated references should support clavicular maturity assessment, and what limits apply across populations and observation methods?
- How should the model distinguish developmental differences, postmortem damage, imaging artefacts, and acquired pathology when evidence remains incomplete?