What human long bone serves as a 'strut' between the shoulder blade and the breastbone?

The clavicle or collarbone is a long bone that serves as a strut between the scapula or shoulder blade and the sternum or breastbone. The scapula is the bone that connects the humerus (upper armbone) with the clavicle. The sternum is a long flat bone locate in the central part of the chest.

There are two clavicles, one on the left and one on the right. The clavicle is the only long bone in the body that lies horizontally. It is a touchable bone and the location is clearly visible to those people having low fat in this region. The clavicle is the most commonly fractured bone.

A strut is a structural component commonly found in engineering, aeronautics, architecture and anatomy. Struts generally work by resisting longitudinal compression. As such clavicle is resisting forces that would bring the upper limb close to the thorax. Keeping the upper limb away from the thorax is vital for its range of motion.