Suprascapular canal

The suprascapular canal is an anatomical passage between two openings found on the upper dorsal aspect of the shoulder. It is found bilaterally running on superior-lateral aspect of the dorsal surface of the scapula underneath the supraspinatus muscle.

Structure

The suprascapular canal is an osteofibrous canal situated in the spinoglenoid fossa conveying suprascapular nerve and vessels. Its passage covered by the supraspinatus fascia and connects between its entrance formed by the suprascapular notch and its exit formed by spinoglenoid notch.

As the suprascapular nerve travels through the suprascapular canal narrow sites, it can potentially get entrapped leading to suprascapular nerve entrapment syndrome. The causes have different anatomical implications at each site. The mechanisms varies and range from anatomical variations to pathological formations as well as from nerve compression to dynamics and traction injuries. The most common causes potentially occur at the suprascapular canal entrance site due to suprascapular notch stenosis, and at its exit site due to synovial joint cystic formation bulging through the spinoglenoid notch.