Corpus: Circumflex scapular artery
From Latin: "circumflectere" means to circle around or to drive around, indicating motion or action that encircles or encompasses something.
Definition
The circumflex scapular artery is a branch of the subscapular artery from the axillary artery system. Its accompanying vein is the circumflex scapular vein.
Course
The circumflex scapular artery travels along the axillary border of the scapula through the medial axillary space to the infraspinous fossa of the scapula.
Branches
The circumflex scapular artery emits two main branches:
- The first branch extends into the infraspinous fossa beneath the infraspinatus muscle, supplying it with muscular branches.
- The second branch runs along the lateral margin of the scapula between the teres major and minor muscles to the dorsal side of the scapula's inferior angle.
Additional smaller branches may supply the dorsal side of the deltoid muscle, the long head of the triceps, and the glenohumeral joint capsule.
Anastomoses
In the infraspinous fossa, there is an anastomosis with the suprascapular artery (scapular anastomosis or scapular network) from the subclavian artery system.
Another anastomosis exists with the dorsal scapular artery, the descending branch of the transverse cervical artery.
Function
The supply area of the circumflex scapular artery includes the scapula and parts of the shoulder musculature.