The great scapular notch (or ''spinoglenoid notch'') is a notch which serves to connect the
supraspinous fossa
The supraspinous fossa (supraspinatus fossa, supraspinatous fossa) of the posterior aspect of the scapula (the shoulder blade) is smaller than the infraspinous fossa, concave, smooth, and broader at its vertebral than at its humeral end. Its med ...
and
infraspinous fossa
The infraspinous fossa (infraspinatus fossa or infraspinatous fossa) of the scapula is much larger than the supraspinatous fossa; toward its vertebral margin a shallow concavity is seen at its upper part; its center presents a prominent convexi ...
. It lies immediately medial to the attachment of the acromion to the lateral angle of the scapular spine.
The
Suprascapular artery
The suprascapular artery is a branch of the thyrocervical trunk on the neck.
Structure
At first, it passes downward and laterally across the scalenus anterior and phrenic nerve, being covered by the sternocleidomastoid muscle; it then crosses t ...
and
suprascapular nerve
The suprascapular nerve is a nerve that branches from the upper trunk of the brachial plexus. It is responsible for the innervation of two of the muscles that originate from the scapula, namely the supraspinatus muscle, supraspinatus and infraspina ...
pass around the great scapular notch anteroposteriorly.
Supraspinatus
The supraspinatus (plural ''supraspinati'') is a relatively small muscle of the upper back that runs from the supraspinous fossa superior portion of the scapula (shoulder blade) to the greater tubercle of the humerus. It is one of the four rotator ...
and
infraspinatus
In human anatomy, the infraspinatus muscle is a thick triangular muscle, which occupies the chief part of the infraspinatous fossa.''Gray's Anatomy'', see infobox. As one of the four muscles of the rotator cuff, the main function of the infraspina ...
are both supplied by the
suprascapular nerve
The suprascapular nerve is a nerve that branches from the upper trunk of the brachial plexus. It is responsible for the innervation of two of the muscles that originate from the scapula, namely the supraspinatus muscle, supraspinatus and infraspina ...
, which originates from the superior trunk of the brachial plexus (roots C5-C6).
Additional images
File:Great scapular notch - animation01.gif, Left scapula. Great scapular notch shown in red.
File:Great scapular notch - animation04.gif, Animation. Great scapular notch shown in red.
See also
*
Suprascapular notch
The suprascapular notch (or ''scapular notch'') is a notch in the superior border of the scapula, just medial to the base of the coracoid process. It forms the entrance site into the suprascapular canal.
Structure
This notch is converted into ...
*
Suprascapular canal
References
External links
* - "Axillary Region: Scapula (Left)"
Scapula
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