Supraspinous region
Regio supraspinata
- Related terms: Supraspinous region (Scapular region)
Definition
The supraspinous region corresponds to the dorsal and lateral area of the shoulder located above the scapular spine, within the supraspinous fossa of the scapula. It is an important anatomical landmark, continuous with the cranial part of the shoulder joint.
Anatomically, this region includes the supraspinous fossa, which is entirely occupied by the supraspinatus muscle, as well as the course of the suprascapular nerve and the cranial scapular vasculature.
The configuration of the supraspinous fossa varies among species: it is well developed in the dog, cat, horse, and ruminants, while in humans, an equivalent region exists but with a different scapular orientation due to the presence of a functional clavicle.
References
Dyce KM, Sack WO, Wensing CJG. Textbook of Veterinary Anatomy. 5th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier; 2017.
König HE, Liebich HG, editors. Veterinary Anatomy of Domestic Mammals: Textbook and Colour Atlas. 6th ed. Stuttgart: Thieme; 2020.
Evans HE, de Lahunta A. Miller’s Anatomy of the Dog. 4th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier; 2013.
