Shoulder girdle (scapula, clavicle)

Place and pose the scapulae and clavicles to define shoulder width, tilt, neck base, and arm attachment.

What it is

The shoulder girdle links the arms to the torso. It includes the scapulae, or shoulder blades, on the back and the clavicles, or collarbones, from the chest to each shoulder.

Track each scapula as it slides, rotates, and tilts across the rib cage. Identify its upper edge, lower corner near the armpit, and spine. Draw the clavicle as a shallow S-curve from the pit of the neck to the shoulder cap.

Set the shoulder girdle before drawing the arms. Establish its width, tilt, and position as shrugged, rolled forward, or pulled back. Use these landmarks to place the neck, chest, deltoids, and arm attachment within a believable range of motion.

Why it matters

This structure connects the arms to the torso and supports believable shoulder poses. Weak control can make the arms appear attached to the rib cage, with clavicles, deltoids, and upper-back planes at mismatched angles.

You can check it when

✓Draw both clavicles as S-curves from the pit of the neck to the shoulders, with matching tilt and perspective in multiple views.
✓Show the scapulae's upper edge, spine, and lower corner from front, side, and back views as the arm lifts, reaches forward, or pulls back.
✓Attach the arms to a defined shoulder mass and show the deltoid wrapping from the clavicle and scapula onto the humerus.
✓Draw shrugged, relaxed, and pulled-back shoulders as distinct poses, with the clavicles and upper-back planes shifting to match.

Shoulder girdle (scapula, clavicle)

What it is

Why it matters

You can check it when

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