The Collarbone Bridge
The clavicle â the strut that holds your shoulder out
Run your finger along the top of your chest â that long strut is your clavicle, the collarbone. It's a bridge that holds your shoulder out from your body, and it was one of the first bones in your body to start hardening!
The clavicle from above
Real anatomy picture coming soon
Real anatomy photo spot: the clavicle bridging the sternum to the scapula
The strut
The clavicle connects your sternum (breastbone) to your scapula (shoulder blade), holding your shoulder joint out to the side so your arm can swing freely. Without it, your shoulder would collapse inwards. It's the only bony link between your arm and your skeleton â every push with your arm sends force through this bridge.
Famous fracture
The collarbone is the most commonly broken bone in the human body! Why? Because when you fall, your instinct is to stick your arm out â and the force travels up your arm to the shoulder and through the clavicle, which is thin and takes the hit. Good news: it heals fast and well.
Mr. Bones says: I'm a fictional skeleton, not a doctor! This is for learning and fun. If anything hurts, stop and tell a grown-up you trust.
