Scapula & Clavicle Ligaments

We just learned about the Sternoclavicular Ligaments that connect your clavicle to your ribs and sternum.

We learned long ago that the clavicle (collarbone) and scapula (shoulder blade or wing bone) work together to hold the ribs and shoulders.

Another group of ligaments are the ones connecting the Scapula & Clavicle.

They are connected with a few different ligaments, at different parts of the bones.

The coracoid process and acromion are two parts of the scapula that stick out and hang on to ligaments that are tied to the clavicle.

The ligaments are:
Acromioclavicular - connects the clavicle to the acromion
Coracoclavicular - connects the clavicle to the coracoid process
Coracoacromial - connects the acromion to the coracoid process
Superior/inferior transverse scapular - covers part of the scapula to help hold nerves and blood vessels

(from: wikipedia - coracoacromial ligament)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Brachial Plexus

Sternoclavicular Ligaments

We just learned about the Posterior Sacroiliac Ligament that connects your hip to your tailbone.

Another connective tissue way up by the shoulder is the Sternoclavicular Ligaments.

Remember the Sternum is the bone in the middle of your chest, and the Clavicle is the collar bone that connects the sternum to the shoulder.

There are 4 different Sternoclavicular ligaments, that connect to different parts of the body:

Anterior sternoclavicular (connects the clavicle to the front of the sternum)
Posterior sternoclavicular (connects the clavicle to the back of the sternum)
Interclavicular (connects the left and right clavicles)
Costoclavicular (connects the clavicle to the ribs)


(from: wikipedia - anterior sternoclavicular)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Coccygeal Plexus

Posterior Sacroiliac Ligament

We just learned about the Costoxiphoid Ligaments that connects the ribs to the xiphoid process.

Another piece of connective tissue is the Posterior Sacroiliac Ligament.

This is a large bunch of tissue that connects the sacrum (tailbone) to the ilium (hip bone), on the posterior (back) part of the body.


(from: wikipedia - posterior sacroiliac ligament)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Sacral Plexus

Costoxiphoid Ligaments

We just learned about the Superior Costotransverse Ligament that connects your spine to your ribs.

Another piece of connective tissue in the body is the Costoxiphoid Ligaments.

These are ligaments that connect the rib, sometimes named the "costo" to the xiphoid process in the middle of the chest.


(from: wikipedia - costoxiphoid ligaments)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Lumbar Plexus

Superior Costotransverse Ligament

We just learned about the Radiate Ligament of Head of Rib that connects the ribs to the spine.

Another connective tissue in the body is the Superior Costotransverse Ligament.

This is a piece of tissue that connects the rib to the part of a vertebrae called the Transverse Process.
The transverse process sticks out from the back of the vertebrae in your spine, and the rib is tied to it by this ligament.


(from: wikipedia - vertebra)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Subcostal Nerve

Radiate Ligament of Head of Rib

We just learned about the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament that goes down the back of the spine.

Another piece of connective tissue is the Radiate Ligament of Head of Rib.

This ligament connects the rib bone to the vertebrae on your spine.


(from: wikipedia - radiate ligament of head of rib)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Intercostal Nerves

Posterior Longitudinal Ligament

We just learned about the Invertebral Disc that gives padding on the spine.

Another ligament that helps cushion the spine and hold it in place is the Posterior longitudinal ligament.
This connective tissue goes up and down in the middle of the spine.


(from: wikipedia - posterior longitudinal ligament)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Intercostal Nerves

Intervertebral Disc

We just learned about the connective tissue the Supraspinous Ligament that goes over the back of your spine.

Another piece of connective tissue is the Intervertebral Disc, or the Intervertebral Fibrocartilage.

This is the piece of cartilage that is in between each of your vertebrae in your spine.

These discs protect each of your vertebrae from bumping against each other, and also helps hold them together.
They also work like shock absorbers so when you are jumping up and down, all the vertebrae in your spine have soft cushions between them.


(from: wikipedia - intervertebral disc)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Cervical Plexus

Supraspinous ligament

We just learned about the Xiphoid Process in the chest.

Another two important pieces of connective tissue are the Supraspinous ligament and Nuchal ligament.

These ligaments are on the outside of the back of your spine, covering the bony part of the back of your spine.
The nuchal ligament goes from your head to the middle of your back, and the supraspinous ligament goes from your back all the way to the bottom of your spine.


(from: wikipedia - nuchal ligament)



(from: wikipedia - supraspinous ligament)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Somatic Nervous System

Xiphoid Process

We just learned about the Costal Cartilage.

Another piece of connective tissue in the body is the Xiphoid Process.

This is a small piece of cartilage on the bottom of the sternum, in the middle of the chest.

The xiphoid process connects the chest to many other parts of the body, like the muscles used for breathing or moving your stomach area around.


(from: wikipedia - xiphoid process)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Coccygeal Nerves

Costal Cartilage

We just learned about the Temporomandibular Ligament.

Another piece of connective tissue is the Costal Cartilage.

This cartilage is in the chest, on the front part of the ribs where the ribs connect together in the middle of the chest.

With this cartilage in the ribs, it lets the rib cage move a little, which allows your chest to get bigger and smaller as you breathe.


(from: wikipedia - costal cartilage)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Sacral Nerves

Pulmonary Artery

We just learned about the right ventricle pumps deoxygenated blood out of the heart to get filled up with oxygen at the lungs.

The deoxygenated blood leaves the heart through the pulmonary artery and goes to the lungs in capillaries.

It might seem strange that even though it is carrying deoxygenated blood it is called an artery instead of a vein.

The reason it is called an artery is because it is bringing blood away from the heart, and veins all pump toward the heart. So after the blood gets filled with oxygen, it brings oxygenated blood back to the heart in the pulmonary vein



(from: wikipedia - pulmonary artery)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Ascending Aorta

Subclavian Vein

We just learned about the superior vena cava vein that brings deoxygenated blood into the heart from above the heart.

That vein is connected to the left and right subclavian veins which go across the chest.
One goes to the left, and one goes to the right.

These veins bring deoxygenated blood from the chest area to go back to the heart.


(from: wikipedia - subclavian vein)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Sigmoid Colon

Superior Vena Cava

We just learned that the inferior vena cava vein brings deoxygenated blood back from the lower part of the body to the heart.

There is another large vein called the superior vena cava that brings deoxygenated blood down from the head area toward the heart.

When you're talking about the human body, superior means above, and inferior means below.


(from: wikipedia - superior vena cava)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Descending Colon

Inferior Venae Cavae

We just learned that the iliac veins bring deoxygenated blood from the pelvis area back toward the heart.

Next the blood goes into a large vein called the inferior venae cavae.
This vein goes all the way up to the heart and drops off the deoxygenated blood.

(from: wikipedia - inferior venae cavae)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Transverse Colon

Iliac Veins

We've now learned about all of the veins that come up from the foot and up the leg.

The Plantar and Dorsal digital veins in the toes go up to the Metatarsal Veins and Dorsal venous arch in the foot.
The Great Saphenous Vein goes all the way from the ankle up to the pelvis.
The Small Saphenous Vein goes from the ankle up to the Tibial and Fibular veins in the lower leg, to the Popliteal Vein in the knee, and then the Femoral Vein in the thigh.

All of those veins bring deoxygenated blood from the toes up and out of the legs.

After the legs, the blood goes to the iliac veins in the pelvis area right above the legs.

(from: wikipedia - external iliac vein)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Ascending Colon

Abdominal Aorta

We just learned about the Thoracic Aorta.

Next stop for oxygenated blood in the arteries is the Abdominal Aorta.

The abdominal artery brings blood to your stomach, intestines and other parts of your digestive system.
It also brings blood to your stomach and back muscles.

(from: wikipedia - abdominal aorta)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Adam's Apple

Thoracic Aorta

We've learned how the oxygenated blood comes down the descending aorta.

Next up is the thoracic aorta, which is behind your chest area.

(from: wikipedia - thoracic aorta)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Vocal Cords

Descending Aorta

We've learned how the oxygenated blood leaves the heart at the ascending aorta, then at the aortic arch it branches off to the carotid artery and subclavian artery.

After the aortic arch, the aorta turns downward and that is called the descending aorta.

(from: wikipedia - descending aorta)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Larynx

Dorsal Scapular Artery

We've learned about the oxygenated blood in the Subclavian Artery,
and how it branches into the Vertebral Artery to give blood to your brain,
and the Internal Thoracic Artery to give blood to your chest.

Another branch of the subclavian artery is called the Dorsal Scapular Artery.
This artery brings blood to the muscles in your back.


(from: wikipedia - dorsal scapular artery)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Lungs