Landmarks.—The subcutaneous portion of the clavi-


cle corresponds to the whole length of the bone, and is bet-
ter appreciated, by the examining finger, at the middle
of the shaft than at either extremity, since it is encroached
upon, at its inner end, by the sterno-mastoid, above, and
by the pectoralis major, below, and, at its outer end, by
the trapezius, above, and the deltoid, below. On grasp-
ing the bone between the finger and thumb, and then mov-
ing the hand along the shaft, the two curves are readily
identified, while, on passing the finger downwards, im-
mediately below the junction of these curves, a promi-
nence is felt at the distance of about one inch from the
clavicle. This prominence is the coracoid process, hidden,
to some extent, by the inner margin of the deltoid muscle.
This coracoid process is, therefore, best felt by push-
ing the finger backwards and outwards in the groove
between the pectoralis major and the deltoid, at a point
about one inch below the clavicle. The acromio-clavicu-
lar articulation is directed downwards and inwards, and
lies in the plane of a vertical line passing up the middle
of the front of the arm, when the latter hangs by the side.
This joint may be identified by passing the finger along
the clavicle towards the acromion process, near which is
felt the enlarged and slightly knob-like outer end of the
bone, and the joint is found lying immediately external
to this prominence.
