The collarbone
Clavicle · clavicula
The S-shaped strut between your breastbone and shoulder that holds your arm out to the side.
What it does
The collarbone acts like a strut, holding the shoulder out from the chest so your arm can swing freely. It also passes force from the arm to the rest of the skeleton and shelters the large nerves and blood vessels heading to the arm. You can feel its whole length just under the skin.
Surprising fact
The clavicle is the first bone in the body to start hardening before birth, at around five to six weeks after conception, and one of the last to finish growing.
Why it matters
The collarbone is one of the most commonly broken bones, usually from falling onto a shoulder or an outstretched hand. Cyclists and rugby players know it well.
Nearby
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Sources
Drafted with AI help; awaiting a human fact-check against these sources.
Open in the 3D atlas · Suggest a correction · Not medical advice.
3D models: Z-Anatomy & BodyParts3D (CC BY-SA 4.0 / 2.1 JP). Card text CC BY 4.0.