Dorsal scapular nerve

The dorsal scapular nerve arises from the brachial plexus,

usually from the plexus root (anterior/ventral ramus) of the
Dorsal scapular nerve
cervical nerve C5. Once the nerve leaves C5 it commonly pierces
the middle scalene muscle, and continues deep to levator
scapulae and the rhomboids (minor superior to major).

It provides motor innervation to the rhomboid muscles, which

pull the scapula towards the spine and levator scapulae muscle,
which elevates the scapula.

Injury to this nerve is usually apparent on inspection when the

scapula on the injured side is located farther from the midline
than the uninjured scapula. The patient would be unable to pull
their shoulder back, as when standing at attention. Isolated dorsal The right brachial plexus with its short
scapular nerve injury is uncommon, but case reports usually
branches, viewed from in front.
involve injury to the scalene muscles.[1]
(Dorsalis scapulae labeled at left,
The nerve is accompanied by one of two arteries: either the second from top.)
dorsal scapular artery (the only artery that branches off the third Details
part of the subclavian artery, although its origin is highly variable
From C5 of brachial plexus
in humans) or, when the dorsal scapular artery is absent, the deep
branch of the transverse cervical artery. The latter is one of three Innervates rhomboid minor, rhomboid
arteries branching off the thyrocervical trunk, a branch of the first major, levator scapulae
part of the subclavian artery, with the other two branches being Identifiers
the suprascapular artery, and the inferior thyroid artery.
Latin nervus dorsalis scapulae
TA A14.2.03.011 (http://www.u
nifr.ch/ifaa/Public/EntryPag
Contents e/TA98%20Tree/Entity%20
See also TA98%20EN/14.2.03.011%
Additional images 20Entity%20TA98%20EN.h
tm)
References
FMA 65279 (https://bioportal.bio
External links
ontology.org/ontologies/FM
A/?p=classes&conceptid=h
See also ttp%3A%2F%2Fpurl.org%2
Fsig%2Font%2Ffma%2Ff
Dorsal scapular artery ma65279)
Not to be confused with: thoracodorsal nerve Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

Additional images
 Brachial plexus Brachial plexus with Deep Branch of
courses of spinal Transverse Cervical
nerves shown running with Dorsal
Scapular

References
1. Akuthota, Venu; Herring, Stanley A. (May 28, 2009). "Nerve and Vascular Injuries in Sports
Medicine" (https://books.google.com/books?id=MfG0632WzhYC). Springer Science &
Business Media – via Google Books.

External links
Dorsal_scapular_nerve (http://www.wheelessonline.com/ortho/Dorsal_scapular_nerve) at the
Duke University Health System's Orthopedics program

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This page was last edited on 29 January 2019, at 17:02 (UTC).

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