Supraspinous fossa

The supraspinous fossa (supraspinatus fossa, supraspinatous fossa) of the posterior aspect of the scapula (the shoulder blade) is smaller than the infraspinous fossa, concave, smooth, and broader at its vertebral than at its humeral end. Its medial two-thirds give origin to the Supraspinatus.

Supraspinous fossa
Left scapula. Dorsal surface. Supraspinatous fossa shown in red.
Left scapula. Dorsal surface. Supraspinatous fossa shown in red.
Details
Identifiers
Latinfossa supraspinata
TA98A02.4.01.007
TA21150
FMA23269
Anatomical terms of bone

Structure

The fossa can be exposed by the removal of skin and the superficial fascia of the back and the trapezius muscle.

The supraspinous fossa is bounded by the spine of scapula on the inferior side, acromion process on the lateral side and the superior angle of scapula on the superior side.

Supraspinatus muscle originates from the supraspinous fossa. Distal attachment of the levator scapulae muscle is also on the medial aspect of the fossa.

Function

The suprascapular artery and nerve are found within the fossa. The posterior branch of the suprascapular artery supplies the supraspinatous muscle. Dorsal scapular artery also gives off a collateral branch and anastomoses with the suprascapular artery.[1] Suprascapular nerve from the brachial plexus passes through the suprascapular notch as it approaches the fossa to supply the supraspinatus muscle. Suprascapular artery and nerve descend together but are separated by the superior transverse scapular ligament at the suprascapular notch.

Clinical significance

Rotator cuff tear
Main article: Rotator cuff tear

Hollowing in the supraspinous and the infraspinous area is frequently seen as chronic rotator cuff tear resulting in wasting.[2] The wasting may be caused by the supraglenoid cyst compressing the suprascapular nerve and causes a loss of innervation to supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles. Such wasting or hollowing can be differentially diagnosed as nerve compression or tendon rupture.

Additional images
  • The human scapula
    The human scapula
  • Supraspinous fossa shown in red.
    Supraspinous fossa shown in red.
  • Supraspinous fossa shown in red.
    Supraspinous fossa shown in red.

See also

References
  1. Clinically Oriented Anatomy (7th ed.). LWW. February 13, 2013. ISBN 9781451119459.
  2. Loudon, Janice Kaye; Manske, Robert C.; Reiman, Michael P. (January 1, 2013). Clinical Mechanics and Kinesiology. Human Kinetics. ISBN 9780736086431.

Public domain This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 203 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

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