The shoulder girdle is also called the pectoral girdle or the shoulder complex.
It is bounded by the shoulder blades (scapulae) in back and the collarbones (clavicle) in front.
It has only one bony connection to the trunk at the front of the chest: the sterno clavicular joint where the collarbones meet the breast bone (sternum).
It includes bones, joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons.
When standing, the upper arm is not involved in weight bearing and is designed to move freely. As a result, the shoulder girdle’s design sacrifices stability for a greater range of motion.
Our focus here is on the shoulder joint and the muscles that move the shoulder blade and upper arms. But, of course, there is a close relationship between the shoulders and the thoracic spine and neck as well.
