Upper limb
Subscapular artery
Arteria subscapularis
- Origin
- Largest branch of the third part of the axillary artery
- Insertion
- Descends along the lateral border of the subscapularis and divides into circumflex scapular and thoracodorsal arteries
- Function
- Primary arterial source supplying scapular musculature, latissimus dorsi, and scapular collateral network
- Innervation
- Sympathetic perivascular nerves
- Movement & chain
- Courses along the posterior axillary wall
- Palpation
- Not palpable through thick posterior axillary fold
- Clinical
- Crucial collateral pathway enabling retro-scapular flow during proximal axillary or subclavian occlusion
- Segmental innervation
- C5–C7 segments
- In clinical practice
- Main pedicle harvested for latissimus dorsi and scapular free flap reconstructions
- Region in the model
- Upper limb