What part of the scapula forms the glenohumeral joint with the humeral head?

Prepare for the National Board Certification Orthopedic Technologist Exam. Enhance your knowledge with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each question comes with hints and explanations to ensure you're ready for your certification!

The glenohumeral joint, commonly referred to as the shoulder joint, is formed by the articulation between the humeral head and the glenoid fossa of the scapula. The glenoid fossa is a shallow, cup-shaped cavity located on the lateral aspect of the scapula that serves to accommodate the rounded head of the humerus. This structure allows for a wide range of motion in the shoulder joint, making it one of the most mobile joints in the human body.

In the context of the other choices, the coracoid process is a bony projection on the scapula that serves as an attachment point for ligaments and muscles, but it does not contribute to the joint's articulation. The acromion is another projection of the scapula that forms the lateral aspect of the shoulder, part of the shoulder's bony framework, but it does not directly participate in the formation of the glenohumeral joint itself. Similarly, the spine of the scapula is a prominent ridge on the posterior aspect of the scapula that serves as a muscle attachment point, but it is not involved in the joint's formation.

Thus, the glenoid fossa's role as the socket of the ball-and-socket joint is essential

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