Abstract
Twenty-four pairs of scapulae from fetal specimens and 35 pairs of scapulae from postnatal cadavers ranging in age from full-term neonates to 14 years, were studied morphologically and roentgenographically. Air-cartilage interfacing was used to demonstrate both the osseous and cartilaginous contours. When the entire chondro-osseous dimensions, rather than just the osseous dimensions, were measured, the scapula had a heightwidth ratio ranging from 1.36 to 1.52 (average 1.44) during most of fetal development. The exceptions were three stillborns with camptomelic, thanatophoric, and achondrogenic dwarfism in which the ratio averaged 0.6. At no time during fetal development was the glenoid cavity convex; it always had a concave articular surface. However, the osseous subchrondral countour was often flat or slightly convex.
In the postnatal period the height-width ratio averaged 1.49. The ratio remained virtually unchanged throughout skeletal growth and maturation. In a patient with unilateral Sprengel's deformity the ratio for the normal side was 1.5, while the abnormal was 1.0. The cartilaginous glenoid cavity was always concave during postnatal development, even in the specimens with major structural deformities, although the subchondral osseous contour was usually flat or convex during the first few years of postnatal development. Ossification of the coracoid process began with the development of a primary center at three to four months. A bipolar physis was present between the primary coracoid center and the primary scapular center until late adolescence.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Arens W (1951) Eine seltene angeborene Mißbildung des Schultergelenkes. ROEFO 75:365
Caffey J (1972) Pediatric X-ray diagnosis. Yearbook Medical Publishers, Chicago
Conforty B (1979) Anomaly of the scapula associated with Sprengel's deformity. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 61:1243
Gardner E, Gray D (1953) Prenatal development of the human shoulder and acromioclavicular joints. Am J Anat 92:219
Gardner E (1963) The prenatal development of the human shoulder joint. Surg Clin North Am 43:1465
Green WT (1972) Sprengel's deformity. Congenital elevation of the scapula. AAOS Instr Course Lectures 21:55
Halstead LB (1974) Vertebrate hard tissues. Wykeham Publications Ltd, London
McCarthy S, Ogden JA (1982) Radiology of postnatal skeletal development. V. Distal humerus Skeletal Radiol 7:239
McCarthy S, Ogden JA (1982) Radiology of postnatal skeletal development. VI. Elbow joint, proximal radius, and ulna. Skeletal Radiol 9:
Ogden JA (1979) Development and growth of the musculo-skeletal system. In: Albright JA, Brand RA (eds) The scientific basis of orthopaedics. Appleton-Century-Crofts, New York
Ogden JA (1981) Chondro-osseous development and growth. In: Urist M (ed) Fundamental and clinical bone physiology. JB Lippincott, Philadelphia
Ogden JA (1982) Skeletal injury in the child. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia
Ogden JA, Ogden DA (1982) Skeletal metastasis. The effect on the immature skeleton. Skeletal Radiol 9:
Ogden JA, Conlogue GJ, Jensen P (1978) Radiology of postnatal skeletal development. I. The proximal humerus. Skeletal Radiol 2:153
Ogden JA, Conlogue GJ, Bronson ML, Jensen PS (1979) Radiology of postnatal skeletal development. II. The manubrium and sternum. Skeletal Radiol 4:189
Ogden JA, Conlogue BJ, Bronson ML (1979) Radiology of postnatal skeletal development. III. The clavicle. Skeletal Radiol 4:196
Ogden JA, Conlogue GJ, Phillips SB, Bronson ML (1979) Sprengel's deformity. Radiology of the pathological deformation. Skeletal Radiol 4:204
Ogden JA, Beall JK, Conlogue GJ, Light TR (1981) Radiology of postnatal skeletal development. IV. Distal radius and ulna. Skeletal Radiol 6:255
O'Rahilly R, Gardner E (1972) The initial appearance of ossification in staged human embryos. Am J Anat 134:291
Oxnard E (1968) The architecture of the shoulder in some mammals. J Morphol 126:249
Patten BM (1968) Human embryology, 3rd edn. McGraw-Hill, New York
Romer AS, Parsons TS (1977) The vertebrate body, 5th edn. WB Saunders, Philadelphia
Ross DM, Cruess RL (1977) The surgical correction of congenital elevation of the scapula. Clin Orthop 125:17
Tachdjian MO (1972) Pediatric orthopaedics. WB Saunders, Philadelphia
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ogden, J.A., Phillips, S.B. Radiology of postnatal skeletal development. Skeletal Radiol 9, 157–169 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00352547
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00352547