A radiograph of the shoulder girdle of a 2-year-old shows a small separate ossification centre within the base of the coracoid process of the scapula. Regarding this centre, which statement is correct?

• A It normally appears at birth and fuses at 5 years
• B It is a persistent accessory centre that never fuses
• C It normally appears at puberty and fuses by 25 years
• D It normally appears around the first year and fuses by about 15 years ✓

Explanation

The coracoid process ossifies from a centre at its base that appears at about the first year of life and unites with the scapula around 15 years of age. A second subcoracoid centre for the superior margin may appear around 10 years. Its early appearance distinguishes it from the acromial and inferior angle centres, which appear in adolescence. An apparent separate coracoid centre in a young child is therefore normal anatomy, not a fracture fragment.

Reference: Gray's Anatomy for Students, 4th ed.

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.