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Shaft (body) of clavicle

The shaft (body) of the clavicle is the elongated central portion of the clavicle, connecting its medial sternal end to its lateral acromial end. It is slightly S-shaped, with the medial two-thirds being convex anteriorly and the lateral one-third concave anteriorly. This unique curvature increases resilience and shock absorption but also predisposes the clavicle to fractures, especially at the junction of its middle and lateral thirds.

The shaft provides multiple muscular and ligamentous attachments:

  • Superior surface: attachment for the deltoid (laterally) and trapezius (laterally), with the sternocleidomastoid attaching medially.

  • Inferior surface: contains the conoid tubercle and trapezoid line (attachment for coracoclavicular ligaments), and the subclavian groove (for subclavius muscle).

  • Anterior/posterior borders: serve as attachment points for pectoralis major, sternohyoid, and deltoid.

The shaft plays a crucial role in the shoulder girdle, transmitting forces from the upper limb to the axial skeleton.

Synonyms

  • Body of clavicle

  • Corpus claviculae

  • Middle clavicle

Function

  • Acts as a strut between sternum and scapula, maintaining upper limb position

  • Transmits mechanical forces from arm to axial skeleton

  • Provides muscular and ligamentous attachment critical for shoulder motion and stability

  • Protects underlying neurovascular structures (brachial plexus, subclavian vessels)

MRI Appearance

T1-weighted images:

  • Cortex: low signal intensity

  • Marrow: intermediate signal, helpful for fracture or marrow pathology

T2-weighted images:

  • Marrow hyperintensity in edema, fracture, or infiltration

  • Cortical outline remains dark

PD-FS (Proton Density Fat-Suppressed):

  • Suppresses marrow fat, highlighting bone marrow edema, stress fractures, or periosteal reaction as hyperintense

  • Sensitive for microfractures and soft tissue injury

STIR:

  • Sensitive for marrow edema and periosteal inflammation

  • Fractures appear as bright hyperintense lines with surrounding edema

T1 Post-Gadolinium (Gd-enhanced MRI):

  • Shows enhancement in marrow infiltration, infection, or neoplasm

  • Useful for evaluating osteomyelitis, tumor extension, and inflammatory lesions

MRI Non-Contrast 3D Imaging:

  • Provides 3D evaluation of shaft morphology

  • Useful for preoperative surgical planning in complex fractures

CT Appearance

Non-contrast CT:

  • Excellent for visualizing fractures, cortical bone, callus formation, and alignment

  • Used for pre-surgical fixation planning

CT Post-Contrast:

  • Highlights associated vascular or soft tissue injury in trauma

  • Useful in detecting osteomyelitis, tumor invasion, or abnormal enhancement

  • 3D reconstructions provide accurate mapping of fracture fragments and deformity

CT image

Shaft (Body) of Clavicle anatomy ct axial image -img-00000-00000

MRI images

Shaft (Body) of Clavicle anatomy MRI axial image -img-00000-00000

MRI images

Shaft (Body) of Clavicle anatomy MRI coronal image -img-00000-00000