Corpus: Dorsal scapular artery
Definition
The dorsal scapular artery is an artery that either originates directly from the subclavian artery or as a deep branch from the transverse cervical artery, supplying muscles along the medial border of the scapula.
Blood supply
The dorsal scapular artery supplies the following muscles:
Course
In approximately one-third of cases, the dorsal scapular artery originates as a deep branch (Ramus profundus) of the transverse cervical artery, and in two-thirds of cases, it arises from the subclavian artery. After branching off, it moves towards the superior angle of the scapula and then descends along the medial border, passing underneath the rhomboid muscles. On the dorsal surface of the scapula, it anastomoses with the circumflex scapular artery and the thoracodorsal artery. In some instances, the dorsal scapular artery can originate directly from the subclavian artery, independent of the transverse cervical artery.