Research article Volume: 2: Issue-2: April-June-2013
Copyrights@2013
Received: 06th May-2013
Revised: 14th May -2013
ISSN: 2278-0246
Accepted: 05th June-2013
Coden : IJAPBS
www.ijapbs.com
MORPHOLOGY OF CORACOID PROCESS AND GLENOID CAVITY IN ADULT HUMAN
SCAPULAE
1
Pahuja Kavita, 2Singh Jaskaran and 3Geeta
Department of Anatomy, S. P.Medical College, Bikaner (Raj.)
Corresponding Author - sincerekavita@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT: Present study carried out on the 129 dry scapulas (67 right and 62 left sides) of unknown age and sex. In
scapula, the coracoid process is arising from the antero-lateral aspect of the scapula, superior and medial to the glenoid
fossa. The mean value of the coracoids length was found 41.0 mm in total scapulae. The coracoids width was found 7.4
mm in total scapulae. The mean of the coraco-glenoid distance was found 23.1 in total scapulae. The Glenoid cavity is the
head of the scapula. The mean value of vertical length of the glenoid cavity was found 35.0 mm in total samples. The mean
value of the maximum width of the glenoid cavity was found 24.9 mm in total scapulae. The width taken of the glenoid
cavity from its upper half segment was found 16.6 mm in total. Knowledge of the normal anatomy and morphometry of the
shoulder joint’s variant is important in the diagnosis and management of diseases of the shoulder joint.
Key words: Scapula, Coracoid process, Glenoid cavity, Morphometry
INTRODUCTION
The scapula is composed of a spine, neck, body, glenoid cavity and two processes- acromion and coracoid process. The
coracoid process is arising from the antero-lateral aspect of the scapula. The morphology of the coracoid is extremely
variable. [1,2] Vedat et al have been observed that patients presenting with complaints of shoulder pain, anatomical
variations of the coracoid process, should be considered important in planning surgical interventions to the relavant area
[3,4].
The Glenoid cavity is regarded as the head of the scapula. The glenoid is pear shaped, inverted-comma shaped or oval
shaped in the coronal plane [5, 6]. Studies have reported that the glenoid inclination is associated with full thickness rotator
cuff tears. [7]Glenoid morphology has a prognostic implication on the primary gleno-humeral osteoarthritis. [8] The
morphometry of the glenoid cavity has clinical application in orthopaedic joint replacement, gleno-humeral instability and
rotator cuff tears management. Purpose of this study was to record all the morphometric values of the coracoid process and
glenoid cavity of scapula for the diagnosis and management of diseases of the shoulder joint.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The study was performed at the Department of Anatomy, S.P. Medical College, Bikaner, Rajasthan. A total of dry 129
unpaired scapula bones were randomly selected at the anatomy laboratory of our department. Of the 129 scapulas, 67 were
from the right side, and 62 were from the left. The bones belonged to mature specimens, but the exact ages and gender of
the specimens were not known. The bones were isolated and inspected macroscopically. Damaged scapulae bones were
excluded from this study.
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Measurements were taken using a sliding vernier calliper (accurate to 0.1 mm) and recorded in millimetres. Each of the
measurement will be taken twice and then average is taken to reduce the bias errors. Data was analysed using SPSS
version 19.0 for and presented in tables.
Following measurements were taken.
1. Maximum scapular length :- Measured from the superior angle to the inferior angle of scapula
2. Maximum scapular width:- The maximum transverse diameter between the medial border of the scapula, where the
spine meets the body of the scapula, and the anterior lip of the glenoid.
3. Vertical diameter of the glenoid cavity (VD):- Maximum distance measured from the inferior point on the glenoid
margin to the most prominent point of the supraglenoid tubercle.
4. Transverse diameter of the glenoid cavity -I (TD-I):-Maximum breadth of the articular margins of the glenoid
cavity.
5. Transverse diameter of the glenoid cavity- II (TD-II): Represents the anterior-posterior diameter (breadth) of the
upper half of the glenoid cavity at the mid-point between the superior rim and the mid point on the vertical
diameter.
6. Length of the coracoid process:- Measured form the base to the tip of the coracoid process.
7. Thickness of the coracoid process:- Measured from the mid point of the coracoid process taken antero-posteriorly
8. Coraco-glenoid distance:- Minimum distance from the anterior rim of the glenoid cavity to the tip of the coracoid
process.
9. Spino-glenoid depth:- measured from the posterior rim of the glenoid cavity to the maximum concavity of the
lateral border of the spine of scapula
10. Shape of the glenoid cavity:- three types were classified type -1 oval, type-2 pear shaped, type- 3 coma shape.
RESULTS
In the present study table 1 showed the mean values of scapular height was 145.1 mm in total samples of scapulae while it
was 145.7 mm in left side and 144.6 mm in right side scapulae. The mean value of the scapular width was 105.5 mm in
total number of samples, where as it is 106.5 mm in left side and 104.6 mm right side. The mean value of the coracoid
process length in total samples measured 4.10 mm while it was 4.11 mm in left side and 4.09 mm in right side. The
coracoid process width was found 0.74 mm in total samples, 0.74 mm in left side and 0.74 mm in right scapulae. The mean
of the coraco-glenoid distance was found 2.31 mm in total, 2.29 mm in left and 2.33 mm in right side scapulae.
The mean value of Glenoid cavity vertical length 3.50 mm in total scapulae, 3.47 mm in left side and 3.52 mm in right
side observed in table 2. The mean value of the maximum width of the glenoid cavity was found 2.49 mm in total samples,
2.49 mm in left side and 2.50 mm in right side. The width of the glenoid cavity was measured from the upper half segment
as 1.66 mm in total samples whereas 1.63 mm in left side and 1.68 mm in right side. The mean value of the depth of the
spino-glenoid notch was found 3.50 mm in total samples, 3.47 mm in left and 3.52 mm in right side scapulae. We observed
the shape of the glenoid cavity and found the oval type in 39 (30%), pear type 75 (58%) and coma shape in 15 (11 %) of
the samples.
Table 1:- The mean values of scapular and coracoid process parameters
Measurements
Total Mean(mm)
Right Mean(mm)
Left Mean(mm)
Scapular.Height
145.1±11.7
144.6±12.2
145.7±11.3
Scapular.Width
105.5±7.6
104. ±7.7
106.5±7.5
Coracod.length
4.10±3.9
4.09±3.6
4.11±4.3
Coracoid.width
0.74±1.1
0.73±1.1
0.74±1.1
Coraco-glenoid distance
2.31±2.8
2.33±2.5
2.29±3.1
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ISSN: 2278-0246
Table 2:- The mean values of the dimensions of glenoid cavity
Measurements
Total Mean (mm)
Right Mean(mm)
Left Mean(mm)
Vertical diameter of the
glenoid cavity
3.50±2.9
3.52±3.0
3.47±2.8
Transverse diameter of the
glenoid cavity -I
2.49±2.5
2.50±2.7
2.49±2.4
Transverse diameter of the
glenoid cavity -II
1.66±1.9
1.68±1.8
1.63±2.0
Spino Glenoid. Notch
Depth
1.72±2.4
1.70±2.8
1.73±2.0
DISCUSSION
In current study observed the mean value of scapular height as 145.1 mm in total sample where as Coskun et al has
reported this mean as 9.88 cm, [9] in another study Sitha et al found this as 131.1 mm which is less than the value we found
in our study that may be due to population variation. The mean value of scapular width has found 105.5 mm in total
samples and according to the Sitha et al it was reported to be 95.70 mm [10]. The mean value of the coracoids length was
found 41.0 mm in total scapulae. The coracoids width was found 7.4 mm in total scapulae. The mean of the coraco-glenoid
distance was found 23.1 in total scapulae. Among the measurements of the coracoid process the length of the coracoid
process mean was reported as 3.78 mm and the thickness was reported as 0.66 mm. our findings was similar to the studies
discussed above. The mean length of coracoid process when compared to the coraco-glenoid distance its showed strong
correlation (0.735, p=<0.01). A strong correlation was observed between coraco-glenoid distance and other parameters as
scapular height (0.411, p=<0.01), scapular width (0.356, p=<0.01), glenoid maximum diameter (0.495, p=<0.01), glenoid
minimum diameter (0.413, p=<0.01). Keeping in view the correlation values mentioned above its concluded that the
coraco-glenoid distance which is important for formation of musculo-rotator cuff affected with length of coracoid process,
scapular height, scapular width and transverse diameters of glenoid cavity. We found the mean value of the Vertical length
of the glenoid cavity 35.0 mm in total samples. The mean value of the maximum width of the glenoid cavity was found
24.9 mm in total. The width taken of the glenoid cavity from its upper half segment was found 16.6 mm in total. Coskun et
al in their study, have observed the transverse width of the glenoid cavity as 24.6 mm, and the vertical width as 36.3 mm as
mean values. [9] Sitha et al reported vertical diameter of the glenoid cavity 33.6 mm. and maximum diameter 25.6 mm and
minimum diameter 24.3 mm in there study [10]. In an another study Cezayir et al have reported the transverse width of the
glenoid cavity as 27 mm, the vertical width as 37 mm. [11] They also reported the distance between coracoid-glenoid as
14.8 mm.
In the present study the mean vertical diameter of the right glenoid was 35.2 mm and the left glenoid was 34.7 mm. The
maximum and minimum transverse diameters of the glenoid in our study were found as 25.00 mm and 16.87 mm in right
side whereas its 24.96 mm and 16.30 mm in left side scapulae. Mamatha et al have reported the mean values of vertical
diameter in the right glenoid cavity as 33.67 mm and left glenoid as 33.92 mm [12]. The mean values of the maximum and
minimum diameter for glenoid cavity were in right side 23.35 mm, 16.27 mm and that of the left side were 23.02 mm and
15.77 mm. The mean value of the depth of the spino-glenoid notch was found 35.0 mm in all the scapulae. We observed a
significant correlation of glenoid maximum diameter with other dimensions as scapular height (0.722, p=<0.01), scapular
width (0.700, p=<0.01) and glenoid vertical diameter (0.747, p=<0.01). Similarly glenoid minimum diameter was also
affected by dimensions such as scapular height (0.550, p=<0.01), scapular width (0.600, p=<0.01), glenoid vertical
diameter (0.671, p=<0.01) respectively.
The shape of the glenoid cavity was found the oval type in 30 % (39) of the samples and pear type 58% (75), and coma
shape in 11 %(15) of the samples. Coskun et al In 64 (72%) of the scapulas the shape of the glenoid cavity was oval, the
glenoid notch was absent. In 26 (28%) of the scapule notch was well expressed and the glenoid cavity was pear-shaped [9].
International Journal of Analytical, Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences
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ISSN: 2278-0246
Mamath et al reported that the right side total 98 glenoid cavities 33 (34%) were inverted comma shape, pear shape
45(46%) and oval shape 20 (20%). On the left side, glenoids with the inverted comma shape were 34 (33%), pear shape 44
(43%) and oval glenoid cavities were 25 (24%). Mamath et al as reported in their study that pear shape percentage is
similar to be found in our study whereas the coma shape was very less reported by the coskun et al but the reporting of the
Mamath et al was more than we found in this present study to be comparing the 34 % with 11% [12].
Knowledge of the shape and dimensions of the glenoid are important in the design and fitting of glenoid components for
total shoulder arthro-plasty. An understanding of variations in normal anatomy of the glenoid is essential while evaluating
pathological conditions like osseous Bankart lesions and osteochondral defects.
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