Upper limb
Suprascapular nerve
Nervus suprascapularis
- Origin
- Arises from the superior trunk of the brachial plexus (C5–C6)
- Insertion
- Passes through the suprascapular notch beneath the superior transverse scapular ligament, innervates supraspinatus, and winds around the spinoglenoid notch to reach infraspinatus
- Function
- Motor to supraspinatus (initiates abduction 0–15°) and infraspinatus (external rotation); sensory to glenohumeral and acromioclavicular joints
- Innervation
- Predominantly motor with articular sensory fibers to the shoulder joint capsule
- Movement & chain
- Provides critical dynamic glenohumeral joint stabilization and external rotation power
- Palpation
- Tenderness can be elicited over the suprascapular notch under the anterior border of trapezius
- Clinical
- Suprascapular nerve entrapment (spinoglenoid or suprascapular notch compression from paralabral cysts in overhead athletes); causes painless rotator cuff atrophy and weak external rotation
- Segmental innervation
- C5–C6 spinal roots
- In clinical practice
- Target for ultrasound-guided suprascapular nerve blocks in adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder), rotator cuff arthropathy, and post-op analgesia
- Region in the model
- Upper limb