What is the anatomical name for the shoulder blade?

The anatomical name for the shoulder blade is the scapula.

The scapula is a paired, roughly triangular flat bone positioned on the back of the upper chest. Each scapula connects the humerus, the upper-arm bone, with the clavicle, or collarbone, helping form the shoulder girdle. Its shallow glenoid cavity meets the head of the humerus to create the shoulder joint.

Several important structures project from the scapula, including the spine, acromion, and coracoid process. The acromion meets the clavicle, while the scapula provides attachment points for the rotator-cuff muscles and muscles that stabilize and rotate the shoulder. This arrangement gives the arm a wide range of movement.

The name comes from Classical Latin and was associated with a trowel or small shovel, reflecting the bone’s shape. Scapulae are found on both sides of the body, although injuries or movement disorders can affect one side more noticeably. The patella is the kneecap, the sternum is the breastbone, and the clavicle is the collarbone.