Collar-bone

Collar-bone, or CLAVICLE (q.v.), is in man, as in most mammals, the only bone directly connecting the upper extremity with the skeleton of the trunk. It is consequently very often broken, more often than any other bone except perhaps the radius. Under proper treatment, in children sometimes even without treatment, it readily reunites without any impairment of the usefulness of the limb. But it is very difficult to maintain such exact adjustment that no irregularity of the surface of the bone will remain; and as it lies close under the skin, the resulting deformity is often visible.