The Pectoral Girdle

This chapter is designed to review the pectoral girdle with elaborate discussions on clavicle and scapula. The chapter opens with the explanation of the clavicle including the identification of primary centers and medial epiphysis. It then moves to the discussion of shaft metrics using different references. It discusses appearance and union times using dry bone and radiographic assessment from different references. This chapter also pictorially describes the scapula. It begins with explaining the body scapula, it identification, and orientation. Fragments may be confused with calvarial bones or the blade of the ilium although presence of the spine should prevent this confusion. The perinatal scapula also has a similar morphology to the isolated lateral occipital. It then moves to the discussion of the coracoid process. The acromial epiphysis can be identified in isolation from mid to late puberty. This chapter gives accounts on metrics and union times, which are explained with the help of various references. The chapter closes with a morphological summary of the pectoral girdle.