Variations in the origin and course of the suprascapular artery: case report and literature review

Abstract The suprascapular artery is normally a branch of the thyrocervical trunk of the subclavian artery. During dissection of the left upper limb of a female cadaver, aged 70 years and fixed in 10% formalin solution, the suprascapular artery was observed aberrantly arising from the first part of the axillary artery. Later, it coursed obliquely behind the clavicle bone and brachial plexus to reach the suprascapular notch, where it was accompanied by the suprascapular nerve. Then, both suprascapular nerve and artery anomalously traversed beneath the transverse scapular ligament. It then irrigated the supraspinatus muscles and took part in the anastomosis around the scapula. On the contralateral side there was no abnormality. Variations in the origin and course of suprascapular artery are of immense value to orthopedic and vascular surgeons, angiographists, and anatomists.

摘要 肩胛上动脉（suprascapular artery）通常为锁骨下动脉（subclavian artery）甲状颈干（thyrocervical trunk）的分支。本研究在对1具经10%福尔马林溶液固定的70岁女性尸体左侧上肢进行解剖时，观察到该动脉起源异常，起自腋动脉（axillary artery）第一段。随后该动脉斜行经锁骨（clavicle）与臂丛（brachial plexus）后方，抵达肩胛上切迹（suprascapular notch），此处与肩胛上神经（suprascapular nerve）伴行；二者均异常走行于肩胛横韧带（transverse scapular ligament）下方。后续该动脉供血冈上肌（supraspinatus muscles），并参与肩胛周围吻合网的构成。对侧上肢未出现解剖异常。肩胛上动脉的起源与走行变异，对骨科与血管外科医师、血管造影医师及解剖学家均具有重要的临床与科研价值。