Circumflex scapular artery

The circumflex scapular artery (scapular circumflex artery, dorsalis scapulae artery) is a branch of the subscapular artery and part of the scapular anastomoses.

Circumflex scapular artery
The scapular and circumflex arteries. (Scapular circumflex visible at center.)
The axillary artery and its branches. (Scap. cir. visible near center.)
Details
Source	subscapular artery
Identifiers
Latin	arteria circumflexa scapulae
TA98	A12.2.09.015
TA2	4629
FMA	23179
Anatomical terminology

It curves around the axillary border of the scapula, traveling through the anatomical "Triangular space" made up of the Teres minor superiorly, the Teres major inferiorly, and the long head of the Triceps laterally.

It enters the infraspinatous fossa under cover of the Teres minor, and anastomoses with the transverse scapular artery (suprascapular) and the descending branch of the transverse cervical (a.k.a. dorsal scapular artery).

Branches

In its course it gives off two branches:

• one (infrascapular) enters the subscapular fossa beneath the Subscapularis, which it supplies, anastomosing with the transverse scapular artery and the descending branch of the transverse cervical.
• the other is continued along the axillary border of the scapula, between the Teres major and minor, and at the dorsal surface of the inferior angle anastomosis with the descending branch of the transverse cervical (dorsal scapular).

In addition to these, small branches are distributed to the back part of the Deltoid and the long head of the Triceps brachii, anastomosing with an ascending branch of the deep artery of arm.

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 588 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

External links

• Anatomy photo:03:05-0101 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Triangular Space of Scapular Region"
• Anatomy photo:05:07-0302 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Major Branches of the Axillary Artery"
• Anatomy figure: 05:04-18 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "The axillary artery and its major branches shown in relation to major landmarks."
• lesson3axillaryart&vein at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University)