The suprascapular artery (also called the transverse scapular artery) is a branch of the thyrocervical trunk that supplies muscles of the scapula. Overall, branches of this artery supply muscles in the supraspinous and infraspinous fossae, including the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles.

This artery runs laterally and backward towards the scapula. It passes along the inferior belly of the omohyoid muscle, and by passing above the suprascapular notch (a notch in the superior border of the scapula) and the superior transverse scapular ligament, it reaches the supraspinous fossa of the scapula, where it provides arterial blood supply to the supraspinatus muscle. Then the artery wraps around the neck of the scapula and reaches the infraspinatus muscle to supply it.

On it course, the suprascapular artery also gives acromial branches that go towards the acromion of the scapula. Usually, the suprascapular artery forms an anastomosis with the circumflex scapular artery from the subscapular artery.

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Suprascapular artery