This MedLibrary.org supplementary page on Winged scapula is provided directly from the open source Wikipedia as a service to our readers. Please see the note below on authorship of this content, as well as the Wikipedia usage guidelines. To search for other content from our encyclopedia supplement, please use the form below:
Related Sponsors
| Winged scapula Classification and external resources |
|
 |
|
|---|---|
| The left side of the thorax. (Winging not illustrated but serratus anterior is labeled at left, and trapezius is labeled at upper right.) | |
| ICD-9 | 736.89 |
 |
This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. (October 2008) |
Winged scapula (scapula alata) is a condition in which the medial border (the side nearest the spine) of a person's scapula is abnormally positioned laterally and posteriorly (outward and backward). The resulting appearance of the upper back is said to be wing-like because the inferior angle of the shoulder blade protrudes backward rather than lying mostly flat like in people without the condition.
Causes
Although there are many causes of the condition, the most common is when the serratus anterior muscles are weakened (for various reasons) or when they are weakened and/or paralysed by impingement of the long thoracic nerve.
This lesion is also classically caused by denervation or damage to the trapezius muscle, which is much larger and stronger than the serratus anterior and is innervated by the spinal accessory nerve. Following damage to the serratus anterior muscle, however, it may take weeks for a winged scapula to develop, because the trapezius muscle must stretch before winging is apparent.
Presentation
The serratus anterior muscle attaches to the medial anterior aspect of the scapula (i.e. it attaches on the side closest to the spine and runs along the side of the scapula that faces the ribcage) and normally anchor the scapula against the rib cage. They also rotate the scapula upwards, allowing the arm to be raised above the head. They are innervated by the long thoracic nerve, so damage to or impingement of this nerve can result in weakening or paralysis of the muscle. This can then cause the scapula to slip away from the rib cage, giving it the wing-like appearance on the upper back. This sign can particularly be seen when the affected person pushes against resistance. The person may also have limited ability to lift their arm above their head.
External links
- -294977523 at GPnotebook
- Illustration at UCSD
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
This disease article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 17 October 2008, at 13:14.
Wikipedia Authorship and Review
Wikipedia content provided here is not reviewed directly by MedLibrary.org. Wikipedia content is authored by an open community of volunteers and is not produced by or in any way affiliated with MedLibrary.org.
Wikipedia Usage Guidelines
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article on "Winged scapula".
The URL for this specific entry is:
All Wikipedia text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License. (See Copyrights for details). Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.