Upper limb
Dorsal scapular artery
Arteria scapularis dorsalis
- Origin
- Direct branch from third part of subclavian artery or deep branch of transverse cervical artery
- Insertion
- Descends along the medial border of the scapula deep to the rhomboid muscles
- Function
- Supplies rhomboids, levator scapulae, serratus anterior, and contributes to the periscapular arterial anastomosis
- Innervation
- Sympathetic perivascular nerves
- Movement & chain
- Follows scapular medial border movements during retraction and protraction
- Palpation
- Not palpable through rhomboid muscle bellies
- Clinical
- Forms the medial arcade of the scapular collateral network ensuring upper limb vascularity
- Segmental innervation
- C5–C7 segments
- In clinical practice
- Protected during posterolateral thoracotomy and scapulothoracic surgical mobilization
- Region in the model
- Upper limb