What is "shoulder girdle"

Shoulder \Shoul"der\, n. [OE. shulder, shuldre, schutder, AS. sculdor; akin to D. schoulder, G. schulter, OHG. scultarra, Dan. skulder, Sw. skuldra.]

1. (Anat.) The joint, or the region of the joint, by which the fore limb is connected with the body or with the shoulder girdle; the projection formed by the bones and muscles about that joint.

2. The flesh and muscles connected with the shoulder joint; the upper part of the back; that part of the human frame on which it is most easy to carry a heavy burden; -- often used in the plural.

   Then by main force pulled up, and on his shoulders bore The gates of Azza.
   --Milton.

   Adown her shoulders fell her length of hair.
   --Dryden.

3. Fig.: That which supports or sustains; support.

   In thy shoulder do I build my seat.
   --Shak.

4. That which resembles a human shoulder, as any protuberance or projection from the body of a thing.

   The north western shoulder of the mountain.
   --Sir W. Scott.

5. The upper joint of the fore leg and adjacent parts of an animal, dressed for market; as, a shoulder of mutton.

6. (Fort.) The angle of a bastion included between the face and flank. See Illust. of Bastion.

7. An abrupt projection which forms an abutment on an object, or limits motion, etc., as the projection around a tenon at the end of a piece of timber, the part of the top of a type which projects beyond the base of the raised character, etc.

   Shoulder belt, a belt that passes across the shoulder.

   Shoulder blade (Anat.), the flat bone of the shoulder, to which the humerus is articulated; the scapula.

   Shoulder block (Naut.), a block with a projection, or shoulder, near the upper end, so that it can rest against a spar without jamming the rope.

   Shoulder clapper, one who claps another on the shoulder, or who uses great familiarity. [Obs.]
   --Shak.

   Shoulder girdle. (Anat.) See Pectoral girdle, under Pectoral.

   Shoulder knot, an ornamental knot of ribbon or lace worn on the shoulder; a kind of epaulet or braided ornament worn as part of a military uniform.

   Shoulder-of-mutton sail (Naut.), a triangular sail carried on a boat's mast; -- so called from its shape.

   Shoulder slip, dislocation of the shoulder, or of the humerous.
   --Swift.

   Shoulder strap, a strap worn on or over the shoulder. Specifically (Mil. & Naval), a narrow strap worn on the shoulder of a commissioned officer, indicating, by a suitable device, the rank he holds in the service. See Illust. in App.

n. (context anatomy English) The human pectoral girdle, consisting of the collarbones and shoulder blades

n. the bony arch formed by the collarbones and shoulder blades in humans [syn: pectoral arch]

The shoulder girdle or pectoral girdle is the set of bones which connects the arm to the axial skeleton on each side. In humans it consists of the clavicle and scapula; in those species with three bones in the shoulder, it consists of the clavicle, scapula, and coracoid. Some mammalian species (such as the dog and the horse) have only the scapula.

The pectoral girdles are to the upper limbs as the pelvic girdle is to the lower limbs; the girdles are the parts of the appendicular skeleton that anchor the appendages to the axial skeleton.

In humans, the only true anatomical joints between the shoulder girdle and the axial skeleton are the sternoclavicular joints on each side. No anatomical joint exists between each scapula and the rib cage; instead the muscular connection or physiological joint between the two permits great mobility of the shoulder girdle compared to the compact pelvic girdle; because the upper limb is not usually involved in weight bearing, its stability has been sacrificed in exchange for greater mobility. In those species having only the scapula, no joint exists between the forelimb and the thorax, the only attachment being muscular.