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The Shoulder Elevation
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President Kennedy was not in a neutral position at the time of autopsy...anatomically speaking. His upper back did not have the normal position that you or I tend to have. This is for two reasons. President Kennedy did not have a normal upper thorax configuration of the bony cage and he was in a state of rigor mortis, which is a state of anaerobic muscular activity caused by the build-up of lactic acid in the muscle. The end result is very stiff and rigid musculature that makes movement of the body very difficult. His shoulder elevation can be easily demonstrated by looking at the x-rays and autopsy photographs and comparing to normal x-rays. See below.
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X-ray Confirmation
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This same anatomical orientation is seen in the AP cervicothoracic x-ray taken of President Kennedy at the time of autopsy. However, you cannot see the superior margins of the collarbones where they attach to the acromion process of the shoulder blade, making the A-C joint of the shoulder. See below.
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A line drawn from the superior margin of the left shoulder tip (on your right) drawn horizontally through the spine places it at C5-6. This corresponds nicely with the autopsy photograph taken of the rear of President Kennedy's back, with the wound below the level of the shoulder, yet corresponding to a lower neck/upper back wound. With this type of shoulder elevation, only minimal 'bunching' would be needed to compensate for the discrepancy noted by numerous conspiracy theorists because his clothing would be elevated due to the shoulder height. Nevertheless, one cannot know Kennedy's exact posture, but the autopsy photos indicate, at least at the time of autopsy, his shoulders were quite elevated, giving the false impression that the wound is at a lower point such as T3 or T4.
The importance of this issue is that Kennedy was leaning onto his right elbow during motorcade on Elm St. This leaning to the right elevates the shoulder, taking the shirt and suit with it and hunching the back somewhat. With the base of his collar near the C4 level, about 3 inches of fabric would be between the base of the collar and the entry. However, we see that some 4 inches are needed. If the fabric had bunched up only an inch, which is highly probable given the photos we see of Kennedy in the motorcade, then it can be expected that the bullet would go through the suit some 4 inches below the collar and impact at the C7-T1 level.
Now, for those of you who are adamant that Kennedy was not shot from behind, take a look at this page.
For more information about the perception of the back wound and where you might be thinking wrong about human anatomy, please click here.
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