scapula

[skap-yuh-luh] /ˈskæp yə lə/
noun, plural scapulas, scapulae
[skap-yuh-lee] /ˈskæp yəˌli/ (Show IPA)
1.
Anatomy. either of two flat, triangular bones, each forming the back part of a shoulder in humans; shoulder blade.
2.
Zoology. a dorsal bone of the pectoral girdle.
Origin of scapula
1570-80; < Latin: shoulder
Examples from the web for scapula
  • Over this surface, except where covered by the scapula, the individual ribs can be distinguished.
British Dictionary definitions for scapula

scapula

/ˈskæpjʊlə/
noun (pl) -lae (-liː), -las
1.
either of two large flat triangular bones, one on each side of the back part of the shoulder in man Nontechnical name shoulder blade
2.
the corresponding bone in most vertebrates
Word Origin
C16: from Late Latin: shoulder
Word Origin and History for scapula
n.

"shoulder blade," 1570s, Modern Latin, from Late Latin scapula "shoulder," from Latin scapulae (plural) "shoulders, shoulder blades," perhaps originally "spades, shovels," on notion of similar shape, but animal shoulder blades might have been used as scraping tools in primitive times, from PIE *skap-, variant of *skep- "to cut, scrape" (see scabies).

scapula in Medicine

scapula scap·u·la (skāp'yə-lə)
n. pl. scap·u·las or scap·u·lae (-lē')
Either of two large, flat, triangular bones forming the back part of the shoulder. Also called shoulder blade.

scapula in Science
scapula
  (skāp'yə-lə)   

Plural scapulae (skāp'yə-lē') or scapulas
Either of two flat, triangular bones forming part of the shoulder. In humans and other primates, the scapulae lie on the upper part of the back on either side of the spine. Also called shoulder blade. See more at skeleton.