Pectoral girdle
Cingulum pectorale
- Latin synonym: Cingulum membrorum superiorum; Cingulum membri superioris; Cingulum extremitatum superiorum; Cingulum extremitatum thoracicarum
- Synonym: Upper limb girdle; Shoulder girdle
- Related terms: Pectoral girdle; Shoulder girdle
Definition
The pectoral girdle (shoulder girdle, girdle of the superior extremity) is formed by the scapulæ and clavicles, and is imperfect in front and behind. In front, however, it is completed by the upper end of the sternum, with which the medial ends of the clavicles articulate. Behind, it is widely imperfect, the scapulæ being connected to the trunk by muscles only.
This definition incorporates text from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy (20th U.S. edition of Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body, published in 1918 – from http://www.bartleby.com/107/).
