Superior Border Of The Scapula

Description

Superior border of the scapula runs from the superior angle medially to the base of the coracoid process laterally, forming the shortest and thinnest margin of the shoulder blade. Along its lateral third, the suprascapular notch interrupts the border near the root of the coracoid, while the superior angle sits posteromedially at the junction with the medial (vertebral) border. The adjacent superior surface of the scapular spine and the upper portions of the subscapular fossa and supraspinous fossa provide bony context around this edge. A subtle contour, but clinically busy. Suprascapular neuropathy often centers on this exact anatomy: the suprascapular nerve passes beneath the superior transverse scapular ligament at the suprascapular notch, while the suprascapular artery typically courses superior to the ligament, a relationship that explains selective nerve compression in athletes with repetitive overhead activity. Bony morphology of the notch (narrow, deep, or bridged by ossification of the ligament) can predispose to entrapment and posterior shoulder pain with supraspinatus and infraspinatus weakness. The superior border also provides a landmark for orienting the scapula in fracture classification and in surgical approaches that work around the coracoid base and the suprascapular region, where iatrogenic nerve injury is a known risk. Small differences matter. Use this illustration for gross anatomy lab manuals, orthopedic and sports medicine teaching on suprascapular nerve entrapment, and radiology correlation when labeling CT or MRI of the suprascapular notch and coracoid root. It also suits surgical education materials covering posterior shoulder pain, coracoid-based procedures, and scapular fracture anatomy. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.