How does the shoulder distribute the load when you pick something up?

Question

What's the path? It can't be skleletal, because the only connection between the arm bone and the backbone is a few tiny clavicle and rib bones. The scapula appears to be strictly for guidance. How is the force distributed?

Answer 1

Actually, it is partly skeletal and partly muscular (including tendons and ligaments). The clavicle articulates with the scapula (shoulder blade) at the same place where the humerus (upper arm bone) rests in the socket. This allows weight to be distributed initially between the three bones if something is actually resting on the top of the shoulder. As you probably know, these bones are held together by ligaments and used with muscles, so those tisses also help distribute the weight. The back carries a large portion because the scapula distributes weight across several ribs, which articulate with the spine, so that the force can be transferred (if posture is shifted) to the bones of the spine, which are designed to take the weight.

Answer 2

Well it would involve the skeletal system as it gives the framework that the muscles attach to. The nervous system coordinates things and the kinesthetic sense or sense of location and balance is vital to the coordination of the processes that would involve your entire body.