The Cutaneous Branch of Some Human Suprascapular Nerves

A cutaneous branch of the suprascapular nerve was observed in 6 arms from 5 (4 male and 1 female) out of 61 Japanese cadavers. The suprascapular nerves with a cutaneous branch arose from essentially normal brachial plexuses. Every suprascapular nerve with a cutaneous branch had a normal course, and gave rise to the cutaneous branch either from the upper of its two muscular branches to the supraspinatus or from its stem under the superior transverse scapular ligament. After passing between the coracoclavicular and coracoacromial ligaments the cutaneous branch pierced the deltoid muscle close to the tip of the acromion. In one case, the peripheral distribution was very carefully dissected, the nerve supplied the proximal third of the lateral aspect of the arm within the territory of the axillary nerve. A cutaneous branch of the suprascapular nerve is obviously not uncommon, at least in Japanese.