Suprascapular artery 4527562 223705778 2008-07-05T10:42:45Z SpellingBot 6773085 howver → however {{Infobox Artery | Name = Suprascapular artery | Latin = arteria suprascapularis, arteria transversa scapulae | GraySubject = 148 | GrayPage = 582 | Image = Thyrocervical_trunk.png | Caption = [[Thyrocervical trunk]] with branches, including suprascapular artery. | Image2 = Gray521.png | Caption2 = The scapular and circumflex arteries. (Transverse scapular visible at top.)| BranchFrom = [[Thyrocervical trunk]] | BranchTo = | Vein = [[suprascapular vein]] | Supplies = [[supraspinatus muscle]], ([[sternocleidomastoid]]), ([[subclavius]])| MeshName = | MeshNumber = | DorlandsPre = a_61 | DorlandsSuf = 12156180 | }} The '''suprascapular artery''' (or '''transverse scapular artery''') is a branch of the [[thyrocervical trunk]]. ==Course== At first, it passes downward and laterally across the [[scalenus anterior]] 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. "<ref>[http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/part_2/chapter_8.html Chapter 8: THE SHOULDER AND AXILLA<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://anatomy.uams.edu/AnatomyHTML/shoulder.html Scapular Region<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> 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. ==Additional images== <gallery> Image:Gray507.png|Superficial dissection of the right side of the neck, showing the carotid and subclavian arteries. </gallery> ==References== <references/> ==External links== * {{SUNYAnatomyFigs|26|03|07}} * {{LoyolaMedEd|grossanatomy/dissector/labs/ue/pect_scap/d1_2.htm}} * {{NormanAnatomy|lesson6}} * {{MUNAnatomy|head/cbv}} * {{eMedicineDictionary|Suprascapular+artery}} {{Gray's}} {{Arteries of head and neck}} [[Category:Arteries]] {{circulatory-stub}} [[de:Arteria suprascapularis]] [[la:Arteria suprascapularis]]