Question

What is the purpose of the clavicle?

Answer 1

The human skeletal system in humans consists of various bones found in the body. The entire number of bones in the human body are divided into two main systems i.e. appendicular skeleton and axial skeleton. These systems are responsible for giving the body a definite shape and undergoing movement and locomotion.

Complete answer:
The axial skeleton consists of 80 bones distributed into the skull, vertebral column, sternum, and ribs. The appendicular skeleton consists of limbs along with their girdles i.e. pelvic girdle and pectoral girdle. The clavicle is the bone that joins the two skeletal systems that are the axial skeleton and the appendicular skeleton system. It also helps in the joining of the bones of the pectoral girdle which is called the scapula and the bone of the axial skeleton which is called the sternum. There are two clavicles that are present on either side of the sternum.

Additional information:
The pectoral girdle is divided into two equal parts. Both the halves of the pectoral girdle consist of a shoulder bone called the scapula and a clavicle called the collarbone. The pectoral girdle attaches the forelimbs to the axial skeleton. The humerus bone of the forelimbs joins with the pectoral girdle at the glenoid cavity.
The structure of the sternum bone is flat, found on the middle line of the thorax ventrally and results in the formation of space for the ribs to articulate them ventrally. The rib sternum comes within the structure of the rib cage.

Note:
The scapula is a dorsal, flat, triangular-shaped bone. The clavicle bone is long, slender, and has two curvatures. The clavicle bone is found to be attached to the scapula through the acromion process which is hooked all over it. The clavicles are two in number both on either side of the ribcage.