scapula

American  

[skap-yuh-luh] / ˈskæp yə lə /

noun

plural

scapulas, scapulae

1. Anatomy. either of two flat, triangular bones, each forming the back part of a shoulder in humans; shoulder blade.

2. Zoology. a dorsal bone of the pectoral girdle.

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scapula British  

/ ˈskæpjʊlə /

noun

1. Nontechnical name: shoulder blade.  either of two large flat triangular bones, one on each side of the back part of the shoulder in man

2. the corresponding bone in most vertebrates

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scapula Scientific  

/ skăp′yə-lə /

plural

scapulae

1. Either of two flat, triangular bones forming part of the shoulder. In humans and other primates, the scapulae lie on the upper part of the back on either side of the spine.

2. Also called shoulder blade

3. See more at skeleton

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Etymology

Origin of scapula

1570–80; < Latin: shoulder

Explanation

Your scapula is your shoulder blade. The scapula connects the collar bone to the upper arm. The scapula is the anatomical term for the flat, triangle-shaped bone that makes up a human's shoulder. Other animals have similar bones, often described as scapular. The word scapula means "shoulder" in Late Latin, from the Latin root scapulae, or "shoulder blades." One guess about the word's origin says the original meaning of scapulae was "spades or shovels," based on their similar shapes.

Example Sentences

Moreover, it was now that for the first time he appointed two pretorian prefects, Quintus Ostorius Scapula and Publius Salvius Aper.

From Dio's Rome, Volume 4 An Historical Narrative Originally Composed in Greek During the Reigns of Septimius Severus, Geta and Caracalla, Macrinus, Elagabalus and Alexander Severus: and Now Presented in English Form by Foster, Herbert Baldwin

Tertullian, in his discourse to Scapula, tells us “that no Christians were to be found in the Roman armies.”

From War Inconsistent with the Religion of Jesus Christ by Dodge, David Low

Left Scapula of the Human Being, Posterior Surface, placed in the Position which it would Occupy in the Skeleton of a Quadruped 23 13.

From Artistic Anatomy of Animals by Cuyer, ?douard

In 47 Plautius was succeeded by P. Ostorius Scapula, who pressed westwards and fought a great battle with the nationalist army of Caratacus in 51.

From Grain and Chaff from an English Manor by Savory, Arthur H.

Ostorius Scapula, the Roman proprietor, had marched against them and defeated them with great slaughter, and they had submitted to the Roman authority.

From Beric the Briton : a Story of the Roman Invasion by Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)