Variation in the origin of suprascapular artery

Variation in the origin of the suprascapular artery was observed in one of the 30 cadavers dissected. The suprascapular artery in our case emerged from the first part of the axillary artery on the left side in a male cadaver, while it arose from the thyrocervical trunk on the right side in the same cadaver. Later in its course it passed obliquely behind the clavicle and brachial plexus to reach the suprascapular notch where it was accompanied by the suprascapular nerve, and both together passed beneath the transverse scapular ligament. It then supplied supraspinatus and took part in the anastomosis around the scapula.