Interscapular region

The interscapular region corresponds to the area located between the two scapulae, on the dorsal part of the cranial thorax. In quadrupeds, it includes the withers, the highest point of the trunk where numerous cervical and thoracic muscles meet.

Anatomically, this region contains the dorsal portions of the trapezius and rhomboideus muscles, as well as the spines of the first thoracic vertebrae and their associated ligaments. It contributes to the suspension of the thoracic limb and to the transmission of forces between the neck, shoulders, and thorax.

The morphology of the interscapular region varies among species: it is highly developed in horses and ruminants, where the withers are tall and prominent; in dogs and cats, it is more rounded and flexible; in humans, an equivalent topographic region exists but lacks the pronounced relief seen in quadrupeds due to the vertical orientation of the scapula and the absence of a functional withers.