This post will introduce you to the 3 bones of the shoulder girdle that you need to know for the NASM CPT exam.
You will get familiar with the scapula, the clavicle, and the sternum.
Of course, we cannot know every question that is coming up on the NASM exam, but the bones of the shoulder girdle could be one of them.
Most importantly, the shoulder girdle bones connect the arms to the axial skeleton on each side.
In humans, the shoulder girdle consists of the clavicle, scapula and the sternum.
The Scapula
The first of the bones of the shoulder girdle to know is the Scapula.
Some people call the Scapula (or Scapulae for plural), the shoulder blade or ‘wings’ of a person.
The scapula is the bone that connects the humerus (upper arm bone) with the clavicle (collar bone).
Like their connected bones the scapulae are paired, with the scapula on the left side of the body being roughly a mirror image of the right scapula.¹
Scapula Posterior View – Image Credit Wikipedia
The Clavicle
The clavicle or collarbone is a long bone between the shoulder blade and the sternum or breastbone.
There are two clavicles, one on the left and one on the right.
The clavicle is the only long bone in the body that lies horizontally.
Together with the scapula (also known as the shoulder blade) it makes up the shoulder girdle.²
The Sternum – Image Credit Wikipedia The Sternum
The Sternum
The Sternum is the last of the 3 bones of the shoulder girdle to know for your NASM exam.
The sternumor breastbone is a long flat bone shaped like a necktie located in the center of the chest.
It connects to the ribs via cartilage, forming the front of the rib cage, and thus helps to protect the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels from injury.
The sternum is one of the largest and longest flat bones of the body.³
Front of the Sternum
Suggested Reading Material
Read the Classic Anatomy of Movement (Revised Edition) for important details on the study of the musculoskeletal system and the movements of the human body.
Rich is a NASM-CPT (Certified Personal Trainer),