The shoulder blade (or scapula), is the bone that connects the humerus (upper arm bone) with the clavicle (collar bone).
Like their connected bones the scapulae are paired, with the scapula on the left side of the body being roughly a mirror image of the right scapula.
The scapula forms the posterior (back) located part of the shoulder girdle. It is a flat bone, roughly triangular in shape, placed on a posterolateral aspect of the thoracic cage.
Depression
Scapular depression moves the shoulder blade (scapula) down, away from your ear – see Figure 1.
Figure 1. Scapular Depression.
Figure 2. Scapular Elevation.
Protraction
Scapular protraction (or scapular abduction) moves the shoulder blade (scapula) forwards, away from the spine – see Figure 3.
Figure 3. Scapular Protraction.
Retraction
Scapular retraction (or scapular adduction) moves the shoulder blade (scapula) back, towards the spine – see Figure 4.
Figure 4. Scapular Retraction.
Downward Rotation
Scapular downward rotation moves the lower angle of the shoulder blade (scapula) towards the spine and downwards – see Figure 5.
Figure 5. Scapular Downward Rotation.
Upward Rotation
Scapular upward rotation moves the lower angle of the shoulder blade (scapula) away from the spine and upwards – see Figure 6.
Figure 6. Scapular Upward Rotation.
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