Anatomy study note · Upper limb

Suprascapular nerve

A branch of the upper trunk (C5, 6) that supplies supraspinatus, infraspinatus and the shoulder joint.

Key points

• Upper trunk, C5–6.
• Under the transverse scapular ligament (artery goes over).
• Supraspinatus + infraspinatus + shoulder and AC joints.
• Upper limb nerves: C4–T2 segments; lower limb: L2–S2.
• Ventral root: basal-lamina neurons. Dorsal root: neural-crest ganglion cells.
• Nerve: epineurium → perineurium (blood–nerve barrier) → endoneurium.
• Cut nerve: Wallerian degeneration; regrows 0.5–3 mm/day.

The full note in the atlas also covers

Course · Histology · Development

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Written from

• Snell’s Clinical Anatomy by Regions, 10th ed., ch. 3, PDF pp. 220–225, 340
• Inderbir Singh’s Human Embryology, ch. 17, PDF pp. 318, 321, 323–325; ch. 10, PDF pp. 143–144
• BRS Cell Biology & Histology, 7th ed., ch. 9, PDF pp. 163–166, 171–172

More from the upper limb

• Supraspinatus
• Supratrochlear (cubital) lymph node
• Teres major
• Teres minor
• Thenar muscles
• Thoracodorsal nerve
• Trapezius
• Triceps brachii
• Ulna
• Ulnar artery
• Ulnar nerve
• Veins of the hand

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