Dorsal Scapular Artery, Posterior View

Description

Framed from a posterior perspective of the male upper torso, the dorsal scapular artery is traced as it descends along the medial border of the scapula, deep to the superficial back layers and in close relationship to the rhomboid musculature. Medially, the vessel runs adjacent to the thoracic wall and posterior ribs, while laterally it hugs the vertebral margin of the scapula toward the inferior angle. Portions of the scapular spine, body of the scapula, and proximal humerus provide bony landmarks, with accompanying veins depicted in blue paralleling the arterial course in red. Course matters here because the dorsal scapular artery (often arising directly from the third part of the subclavian artery, or alternatively as the deep branch of the transverse cervical artery) is a principal feeder of the rhomboid major and minor and participates in the scapular anastomoses that maintain perfusion when the axillary artery is compromised. This view clarifies the artery’s relationship to the medial scapular border, a corridor relevant during posterior approaches for scapular fracture fixation and when raising scapular or parascapular flaps, where inadvertent injury can lead to troublesome bleeding and rhomboid ischemia. A clean landmark. The proximity to the dorsal scapular nerve, typically traveling with or near the artery, also makes this relationship useful when discussing medial scapular pain patterns related to nerve entrapment. Ideal for gross anatomy labs covering the posterior shoulder girdle, surgical anatomy teaching on scapular exposures, and atlas plates explaining collateral circulation around the scapula and variants in subclavian artery branching. It also supports clinical graphics for orthopedic and plastic surgery publications that need an accurate medial scapular vascular roadmap. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.