User:Tdean005/Coracoid process

The coracoid process is a snare molded bone design projecting anterolaterally from the unrivaled part of the scapular neck. Surgeons refer to this part of the body as the “lighthouse of the shoulder” as it is close to the area where structures of veins and nerves (neurovascular) are bound together. The distances between the coracoid base and the neurovascular structures is like a 90 degree chair. The suprascapular ligament is right next to the coracoid process. The muscles that are attached are: Pectoralis Minor, Coracobrachialis, and Biceps Brachii.

In addition, this structure attaches all the tendons and ligaments together. There are two purposes for this structure: it is the primary hold by which the clavicle is joined to the scapula and alongside the acromion and coraco-acromial tendon, it shapes the curve over the glenoid. By having the coracoid process, this allows the scapula to not be attached to the skeletons by the bone so that it can only support the limbs. Although there are minor instances where the coracoid process can be damaged by itself, there can still be damage to the structure with an acute subscapularis tear. Usually a disruption in the coracoid process can indicate a shoulder injury such as dislocation and instability.

Anthropologists use the coracoid process to study shoulder morphology in order to find out if the upper limbs provided support for bipedalism in the early hominin ages. The shoulder is an area of primate life structures that previous examinations have demonstrated to emphatically mirror the varying useful requests forced by contrasts in locomotor modes. Since the morphology of early hominin upper appendage components comprises a blend of derived traits, it is noted that these primitive features are of continuous usage throughout the evolution of hominins. When Australopithecus africanus (known as Sts 7 within the realms of Anthropology) was being examined, it was observed that the scapular orientation was higher as compared to modern day humans (Homo sapiens). However, Homo Sapiens do not have distinct features in terms of shape or size when it comes to the coracoid process. Within the research of Elizabeth Vrbua, a paleoanthropologist who made a study called “A New Study of the Scapula of Australopithecus africanus from Sterkfontein”, it was seen that A. africanus had a higher scapular position which could infer that this position is likely to be seen in earlier hominins as well.

According to the authors of “The human acromion viewed from an evolutionary perspective”, there were different shapes of surface of the coracoid process within the various hominins. The gorilla had a wide shape, chimpanzees, orangutan, and Homo sapien had an intermediate shape, and the gibbon had a small shape. This can further be analyzed as the different hominids have variability in their shape of the coracoid process. The latest contributions to the evolutionary coracoid process were from Doctor M. Hussan in 2016 where he added further insight on the significance of the subacromial impingement and coracoacromial arch’s importance with the aid of pathology.