The key difference between male and female clavicle is that males typically have a straighter, thicker clavicle while females have a more V-shaped clavicle.
The clavicle, also known as the collarbone, is a long bone that extends between the manubrium of the sternum and the acromion of the scapula. It has three main functions: attaching the upper limb to the trunk, protecting underlying neurovascular structures, and transmitting force from the upper limb. Anatomically, male and female clavicles are different. This difference is very important in fields like forensic studies.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Male Clavicle
3. What is Female Clavicle
4. Similarities – Male and Female Clavicle
5. Male vs Female Clavicle in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Male vs Female Clavicle
What is Male Clavicle?
The male clavicle or collarbone is straighter and thicker. It is also long and robust. Clavicles are one of the bones used for sex determination. Clavicles are especially useful in cases where only skeletal remains are available for forensic studies or identification. One of the most significant features of the male clavicle is that it has a higher midclavicular circumference (34.87 mm). The male clavicle is characterized by its heavier weight, acromial end situated higher than the sternal end, large subclavian groove, and large nutrient foramen.
Furthermore, the male clavicle has a linear length of 141.30 mm, a posterior curved length of 151.65mm, and a median 2/3 and lateral 1/3 junction circumference of 40.50 mm. The rhomboid fossa is a normal concave lucent irregularity normally seen along the inferomedial aspect of the clavicle. It is also the insertion site for the costoclavicular ligament. Rhomboid fossa is more prominent in the male clavicle. The male clavicle also exhibits a higher number of bone perforations, greater sternal and acromial end diameters, larger conoid diameter, higher lateral, medial, and total angles, and more pronounced asymmetry in comparison to the female clavicle, while the sternal diameter of the male clavicle is less asymmetric.
What is Female Clavicle?
The female clavicle or collarbone has a more V-shaped clavicle. The female clavicle has lesser values in midclavicular circumference (28.67 mm). Its linear length is 125.71 mm, posterior curved length is 134.36 mm, medial 2/3, and lateral 1/3 junction length circumference is 34.93 mm. Moreover, the female clavicle is light in weight, smooth, and has a lower acromial end than the sterna end, a small subclavian groove, and a smaller nutrient foramen.
Furthermore, the rhomboid fossa is less prominent in the female clavicle. In addition, the female clavicle displays fewer bone perforations, smaller sternal and acromial end diameters, reduced conoid diameter, lower lateral, medial, and total angles, less pronounced asymmetry, and greater sternal diameter asymmetry compared to the male clavicle.
What are the Similarities Between Male and Female Clavicle?
- Both male and female clavicles are present between the sternum’s manubrium and the scapula’s acromion.
- Both are very important in giving shape to males and females.
- They are very useful in forensic studies or identifications.
What is the Difference Between Male and Female Clavicle?
A male typically has a straighter, thicker clavicle, while a female has a more V-shaped clavicle. Thus, this is the key difference between male and female clavicle. Furthermore, the male clavicle is heavier in weight, rough, and has a higher acromial end than the sterna end, a large subclavian groove, and larger nutrient foramen. On the other hand, the female clavicle is lighter in weight, smooth, and has a lower acromial end than the sterna end, a small subclavian groove, and smaller nutrient foramen.
The below infographic presents the differences between male and female clavicle in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Male vs Female Clavicle
Clavicle is a very important long bone in humans. It plays a vital role in functional movement and serves as a connection between the axial skeleton and the pectoral girdle. The clavicle bone of males and females is structurally different and is very important in sex determination in forensic studies. Moreover, a male typically has a straighter, thicker clavicle, while a female has a more V-shaped clavicle. So, this is the key difference between male and female clavicle.
Reference:
1. “4.1 Determining the Gender of the Crew.” Analytical Science: Secrets of the Mary Rose.
2. “Anatomy, Shoulder and Upper Limb, Clavicle” – Statpearls – NCBI Bookshelf.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Clavicle – anterior view” By Anatomography – (CC BY-SA 2.1 jp) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Close-up Photo of a Woman’s Collarbone” (CC0) via Pexels