Acromion
Last revised by Doaa Faris Jabaz
on 16 Dec 2022
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Smith L, Jabaz D, Knipe H, et al. Acromion. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 10 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-37566
Permalink:
rID:
37566
Article created:
13 Jun 2015,
Laura Smith
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Laura Smith had no recorded disclosures.
View Laura Smith's current disclosures
Last revised:
16 Dec 2022,
Doaa Faris Jabaz
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Doaa Faris Jabaz had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Doaa Faris Jabaz's current disclosures
Revisions:
9 times, by
8 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Acromion process
- Acromial process
- Acromia
The acromion (plural: acromia), also known as the acromial process, is a small projection of the scapula that extends anteriorly from the spine of the scapula.
On this page:
Gross anatomy
It forms the acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) with the lateral third of the clavicle and also connects with the coracoid process via the coracoacromial ligament.
Attachments
Musculotendinous
- mid-portion of deltoid muscle originates from the acromion 1
Ligamentous
- acromioclavicular ligament attaches to the clavicle
- coracoacromial ligament attaches to the coracoid
Relations
Arterial supply
- primary nutrient branch of the subscapular artery and suprascapular arteries 2
Variant anatomy
There are a number of acromial types, which reflect the inferior surface shape of the acromion 1:
- type 1: flat acromion
- type 2: curved acromion
- type 3: hooked acromion
- type 4: convex
Related pathology
Quiz questions
References
- 1. Normal and Pathological Anatomy of the Shoulder. Springer. ISBN:3662457180. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 2. Brookes M, Revell WJ. Blood Supply of Bone: Scientific Aspects. Springer. ISBN:1447115457. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
Incoming Links
Articles:
- Coracoacromial arch
- Shoulder (superior-inferior axial view)
- Supra-acromial bursa
- Acromioclavicular joint
- Biceps pulley injury
- Acromial spur
- Inferior shoulder dislocation
- Acromion fracture
- Lateral acromial angle
- Deltoid muscle
- Coracoacromial ligament
- Rockwood classification of acromioclavicular joint injury
- Acromioclavicular joint configuration
- Downsloping lateral acromion
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Superficial layer of the deep cervical fascia
- Subacromial-subdeltoid bursa
- Apophyseal stress injury
- Os acromiale
- MRI of the shoulder (an approach)
Cases:
- Multiple myeloma
- Acromion fracture
- Rim rent supraspinatus tear
- Os acromiale
- Acromial fracture
- Acromial fracture
- Acromioclavicular injury - Rockwood type III
- Shoulder radiograph - AP (anatomy quiz)
- Acromion process fracture
- Acromioclavicular joint injury - grade II
- Shoulder - annotated x-rays
- Anatomy Quiz - Shoulder Axial View
- Acromial fracture
- Os acromiale
Multiple choice questions:
Related articles: Anatomy: Upper limb
-
skeleton of the upper limb
- clavicle
- scapula
- humerus
- radius
- ulna
- hand
- accessory ossicles of the upper limb
- accessory ossicles of the shoulder
- accessory ossicles of the elbow
-
accessory ossicles of the wrist (mnemonic)
- os centrale carpi
- os epilunate
- os epitriquetrum
- os styloideum
- os hamuli proprium
- lunula
- os triangulare
- trapezium secondarium
- os paratrapezium
- os radiostyloideum (persistent radial styloid)
- joints of the upper limb
-
pectoral girdle
-
shoulder joint
- articulations
- associated structures
- joint capsule
- bursae
- ligaments
- movements
- scapulothoracic joint
-
glenohumeral joint
- arm flexion
- arm extension
- arm abduction
- arm adduction
- arm internal rotation (medial rotation)
- arm external rotation (lateral rotation)
- circumduction
- arterial supply - scapular anastomosis
- ossification centers
-
shoulder joint
-
elbow joint
- proximal radioulnar joint
- ligaments
- associated structures
- movements
- alignment
- arterial supply - elbow anastomosis
- development
-
wrist joint
- articulations
-
ligaments
- intrinsic ligaments
- extrinsic ligaments
- radioscaphoid ligament
- dorsal intercarpal ligament
- dorsal radiotriquetral ligament
- dorsal radioulnar ligament
- volar radioulnar ligament
- radioscaphocapitate ligament
- long radiolunate ligament
- Vickers ligament
- short radiolunate ligament
- ulnolunate ligament
- ulnotriquetral ligament
- ulnocapitate ligament
- ulnar collateral ligament
- associated structures
- extensor retinaculum
- flexor retinaculum
- joint capsule
- movements
- alignment
- ossification centers
-
hand joints
- articulations
- carpometacarpal joint
-
metacarpophalangeal joints
- palmar ligament (plate)
- collateral ligament
-
interphalangeal joints
- palmar ligament (plate)
- collateral ligament
- movements
- ossification centers
- articulations
-
pectoral girdle
- spaces of the upper limb
- muscles of the upper limb
- shoulder girdle
- anterior compartment of the arm
- posterior compartment of the arm
-
anterior compartment of the forearm
- superficial
- intermediate
- deep
-
posterior compartment of the forearm (extensors)
- superficial
- deep
- muscles of the hand
-
accessory muscles
- elbow
- volar wrist midline
- palmaris longus profundus
- aberrant palmaris longus
- volar wrist radial-side
- accessory flexor digitorum superficialis indicis
- flexor indicis profundus
- flexor carpi radialis vel profundus
- accessory head of the flexor pollicis longus (Gantzer muscle, common)
- volar wrist ulnar-side
- dorsal wrist
- blood supply to the upper limb
-
arteries
- subclavian artery (mnemonic)
- axillary artery
- brachial artery (proximal portion)
- ulnar artery
- radial artery
- veins
-
arteries
- innervation of the upper limb
- intercostobrachial nerve
-
brachial plexus (mnemonic)
- branches from the roots
- branches from the trunks
- branches from the cords
- lateral cord
- posterior cord
- medial cord
- terminal branches
- lymphatic drainage of the upper limb
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