Clavicle

The clavicle is also known as the collar bone. It is a doubly curvy short bone that connects the arm to the body just above the first rib. It is classified as a long bone and rotates along its axis like a key when the shoulder is abducted. In people with less fat, it is possible to see it as a bulge in the skin below the neck.

Even though it is classified as a long bone, it does not have a bone marrow cavity like other long bones. It is made up of spongy bone with a shell of compact bone. It is a dermal bone derived from elements originally attached to the skull.

Functions of the Clavicle

The collar bone serves several functions:

• It transmits physical impacts from the upper limb to the axial skeleton,
• It serves as a rigid support from which the scapula and free limb are suspended. This keeps the arm away from the thorax to allow for maximum range of movement for the arm, and
• The collar bone covers the passageway between the neck and arm, through which several important structures pass.

Conditions of the Clavicle

Though it suffers from most common bone diseases like osteoporosis and arthritis, the most common conditions have to do with physical injuries. These include:

• Separated Shoulder - This is also known as acromioclavicular separation. It normally occurs in people in sports such as football, rugby, and wrestling.
• Sternoclavicular dislocations,
• Clavicle fractures - Children and infants are particularly prone to it especially in difficult births. Normally happens after a fall onto an outstretched upper extremity or fall onto a shoulder,
• Osteolysis - This refers to the active dissolution of the bone. Distal clavicular osteolysis is prevalent among weightlifters due to high stresses on the clavicle, and
  Degeneration of the Clavicle

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