Suprascapular artery
Encyclopedia
The suprascapular artery (or transverse scapular artery) is a branch of the thyrocervical trunk
.
and phrenic nerve
, being covered by the sternocleidomastoid muscle
; it then crosses the subclavian artery
and the brachial plexus
, running behind and parallel with the clavicle
and subclavius muscle
and beneath the inferior belly of the omohyoid to the superior border of the scapula
. It passes over the superior transverse scapular ligament
(unlike the suprascapular nerve
, which passes below the ligament). (This can be remembered with the mnemonic, "Army over Navy", where Army replaces Artery and Navy replaces Nerve. You could also remember by making a reference to a bridge where the army would go over the bridge while the navy would go under.)
The artery then enters the supraspinatous fossa
of the scapula. It travels close to the bone, running between the scapula and the supraspinatus muscle
, to which it supplies branches.
It then descends behind the neck of the scapula
, through the great scapular notch and under cover of the inferior transverse ligament
, to reach the infraspinatous fossa
, where it anastomoses with the scapular circumflex artery and the descending branch of the transverse cervical artery
.
Besides distributing branches to the sternocleidomastoid (which, however, mainly is supplied by the occipital artery
and the superior thyroid artery
), subclavius (which mainly is supplied by the thoracoacromial artery
), and neighboring muscles, it gives off a suprasternal branch, which crosses over the sternal end of the clavicle to the skin of the upper part of the chest; and an acromial branch, which pierces the trapezius and supplies the skin over the acromion. Just as with supplying the subclavius muscle, it anastomoses with the thoracoacromial artery
in supplying skin areas.
As the artery passes over the superior transverse scapular ligament
, it sends a branch into the subscapular fossa
, where it ramifies beneath the subscapularis, and anastomoses with the subscapular artery
and with the dorsal scapular artery
.
It also sends articular branches to the acromioclavicular joint
and the shoulder joint, and a nutrient artery to the clavicle.
Thyrocervical trunk
The thyrocervical trunk is a branch of the subclavian artery arising from the first portion of this vessel, i.e. between the origin of the subclavian artery and the inner border of the scalenus anterior muscle...
.
Course
At first, it passes downward and laterally across the scalenus anteriorScalenus anterior
The Scalenus anterior , also known as anterior scalene muscle, lies deeply at the side of the neck, behind the Sternocleidomastoideus.-Anatomy:...
and phrenic nerve
Phrenic nerve
The phrenic nerve originates mainly from the 4th cervical nerve, but also receives contributions from the 5th and 3rd cervical nerves in humans....
, being covered by the sternocleidomastoid muscle
Sternocleidomastoid muscle
In human anatomy, the sternocleidomastoid muscle , also known as sternomastoid and commonly abbreviated as SCM, is a paired muscle in the superficial layers of the anterior portion of the neck...
; it then crosses the subclavian artery
Subclavian artery
In human anatomy, the subclavian arteries are two major arteries of the upper thorax , below the clavicle . They receive blood from the top of the aorta...
and the brachial plexus
Brachial plexus
The brachial plexus is a network of nerve fibers, running from the spine, formed by the ventral rami of the lower four cervical and first thoracic nerve roots...
, running behind and parallel with the clavicle
Clavicle
In human anatomy, the clavicle or collar bone is a long bone of short length that serves as a strut between the scapula and the sternum. It is the only long bone in body that lies horizontally...
and subclavius muscle
Subclavius muscle
The Subclavius is a small triangular muscle, placed between the clavicle and the first rib.Along with the pectoralis major and pectoralis minor muscles, the subclavius muscle makes up the anterior wall of the axilla.-Origin and insertion:...
and beneath the inferior belly of the omohyoid to the superior border of the scapula
Scapula
In anatomy, the scapula , omo, or shoulder blade, is the bone that connects the humerus with the clavicle ....
. It passes over the superior transverse scapular ligament
Superior transverse scapular ligament
The superior transverse ligament converts the scapular notch into a foramen or opening.It is a thin and flat fasciculus, narrower at the middle than at the extremities, attached by one end to the base of the coracoid process, and by the other to the medial end of the scapular notch.The...
(unlike the suprascapular nerve
Suprascapular nerve
The suprascapular nerve arises from the upper trunk . It innervates the supraspinatus muscles and infraspinatus muscles....
, which passes below the ligament). (This can be remembered with the mnemonic, "Army over Navy", where Army replaces Artery and Navy replaces Nerve. You could also remember by making a reference to a bridge where the army would go over the bridge while the navy would go under.)
The artery then enters the supraspinatous fossa
Supraspinatous fossa
The supraspinatous fossa of the posterior aspect of the scapula is smaller than the infraspinatous fossa, concave, smooth, and broader at its vertebral than at its humeral end. Its medial two-thirds give origin to the Supraspinatus....
of the scapula. It travels close to the bone, running between the scapula and the supraspinatus muscle
Supraspinatus muscle
The supraspinatus is a relatively small muscle of the upper arm that runs from the supraspinatous fossa superior of the scapula to the greater tubercle of the humerus. It is one of the four rotator cuff muscles and also abducts the arm at the shoulder...
, to which it supplies branches.
It then descends behind the neck of the scapula
Scapula
In anatomy, the scapula , omo, or shoulder blade, is the bone that connects the humerus with the clavicle ....
, through the great scapular notch and under cover of the inferior transverse ligament
Inferior transverse ligament
Inferior transverse ligament can refer to:* Inferior transverse ligament of scapula* Inferior transverse ligament of the tibiofibular syndesmosis...
, to reach the infraspinatous fossa
Infraspinatous fossa
The infraspinatous fossa of the scapula is much larger than the supraspinatous fossa; toward its vertebral margin a shallow concavity is seen at its upper part; its center presents a prominent convexity, while near the axillary border is a deep groove which runs from the upper toward the lower...
, where it anastomoses with the scapular circumflex artery and the descending branch of the transverse cervical artery
Transverse cervical artery
The transverse cervical artery is a branch of the thyrocervical trunk, running at a higher level than the suprascapular artery.-Path:...
.
Besides distributing branches to the sternocleidomastoid (which, however, mainly is supplied by the occipital artery
Occipital artery
The occipital artery arises from the external carotid artery opposite the facial artery, its path is below the posterior belly of digastric to the occipital region. This artery supplies blood to the back of the scalp and sterno-mastoid muscles...
and the superior thyroid artery
Superior thyroid artery
The superior thyroid artery arises from the external carotid artery just below the level of the greater cornu of the hyoid bone and ends in the thyroid gland.-Relations:...
), subclavius (which mainly is supplied by the thoracoacromial artery
Thoracoacromial artery
The thoracoacromial artery is a short trunk, which arises from the forepart of the axillary artery, its origin being generally overlapped by the upper edge of the Pectoralis minor.-Branches:...
), and neighboring muscles, it gives off a suprasternal branch, which crosses over the sternal end of the clavicle to the skin of the upper part of the chest; and an acromial branch, which pierces the trapezius and supplies the skin over the acromion. Just as with supplying the subclavius muscle, it anastomoses with the thoracoacromial artery
Thoracoacromial artery
The thoracoacromial artery is a short trunk, which arises from the forepart of the axillary artery, its origin being generally overlapped by the upper edge of the Pectoralis minor.-Branches:...
in supplying skin areas.
As the artery passes over the superior transverse scapular ligament
Superior transverse scapular ligament
The superior transverse ligament converts the scapular notch into a foramen or opening.It is a thin and flat fasciculus, narrower at the middle than at the extremities, attached by one end to the base of the coracoid process, and by the other to the medial end of the scapular notch.The...
, it sends a branch into the subscapular fossa
Subscapular fossa
The costal or ventral surface of the scapula presents a broad concavity, the subscapular fossa.It provides an attachment for the subscapularis muscle.-External links: - "Scapular Region: Scapula "...
, where it ramifies beneath the subscapularis, and anastomoses with the subscapular artery
Subscapular artery
The subscapular artery, the largest branch of the axillary artery, arises at the lower border of the Subscapularis muscle, which it follows to the inferior angle of the scapula, where it anastomoses with the lateral thoracic and intercostal arteries and with the descending branch of the transverse...
and with the dorsal scapular artery
Dorsal scapular artery
The dorsal scapular artery is a blood vessel which supplies thelevator scapulae, rhomboids, and trapezius.-Origin:...
.
It also sends articular branches to the acromioclavicular joint
Acromioclavicular joint
The acromioclavicular joint, or AC joint, is a joint at the top of the shoulder. It is the junction between the acromion and the clavicle. -Function:...
and the shoulder joint, and a nutrient artery to the clavicle.