Suprascapular Nerve

Description

Shown in right lateral orientation, the cervical spine and upper thoracic vertebrae sit medial to the scapula, clavicle, and proximal humerus, with the brachial plexus roots and trunks coursing inferolaterally from the neck toward the shoulder girdle. The suprascapular nerve arises from the superior trunk (C5 to C6), passes deep to the clavicle, then runs posterolaterally toward the superior border of the scapula to enter the suprascapular notch beneath the superior transverse scapular ligament. From there it crosses the supraspinous fossa to supply supraspinatus, then curves around the lateral edge of the scapular spine through the spinoglenoid notch to reach infraspinatus. A long, exposed course. This lateral projection is the one you want when teaching the relationship between the suprascapular nerve and the scapular notches, because it explains two classic entrapment sites with different clinical signatures. Compression at the suprascapular notch can denervate both supraspinatus and infraspinatus, while a spinoglenoid notch ganglion (often from a SLAP lesion) preferentially weakens external rotation by affecting infraspinatus. The illustration also supports surgical planning for posterior shoulder arthroscopy and open decompression, where the nerve’s position relative to the scapular spine and glenoid rim defines safe dissection planes. Use it in gross anatomy and regional anatomy lectures on the posterior triangle and shoulder, in orthopaedic sports medicine texts discussing suprascapular neuropathy, and in radiology teaching files that correlate MR findings of muscle edema or fatty atrophy with the level of nerve compression. It also fits patient education material for chronic posterior shoulder pain and weakness after overhead activity. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.