BACKGROUND

The clavicle or collar bone is a modified long bone. It is the first bone to ossify in the membrane. The inferior surface of shaft of clavicle presents a subclavian groove. A nutrient foramen lies at the lateral end of the groove. The nutrient artery is derived from the supraclavicular or clavicular branch of thoracoacromial artery. A bone is supplied by a nutrient artery which passes through the small tunnel called as nutrient foramina. In orthopaedic procedures to preserve the circulation, the topographical knowledge of the nutrient foramen is important. The study was undertaken to analyse nutrient foramina in adult human clavicles in relation to their number, position, direction, and distribution over bone length.