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

Example Sentences

He was covered in gore, he had burns all over his body, including both his hands, and he’d cracked his scapula in half while breaking out of the club.

From Los Angeles Times

Arunong had a fractured scapula, her lungs were not taking in sufficient oxygen, and the wound on her forehead went down to her skull, a detective wrote.

From Seattle Times

But in his third MLB start on Aug. 20, Hancock felt a familiar twinge in the back of his shoulder near the scapula.

From Seattle Times

The discomfort is in the teres major, which is a small muscle that runs lateral to the scapula.

From Seattle Times

After suffering a life-threatening car accident in 2021, breaking three ribs, her scapula and her jaw, the saxophonist scaled new compositional heights during recovery, channeling them into 2023’s appropriately titled and critically acclaimed “Phoenix.”

From Seattle Times