The cutaneous branch of the human suprascapular nerve.

The cutaneous branch of the suprascapular nerve was studied bilaterally in 34 adult cadavers. In 5 the suprascapular nerve derived its fibres from the ventral rami of the 4th, 5th and 6th cervical nerves. The cutaneous branch was observed in 14.7% of the 68 limbs examined. In 3 cadavers the cutaneous branch arose from the upper branch to the supraspinatus muscle and in 1 case from the stem of the suprascapular nerve just above the transverse scapular ligament. In 1 case the cutaneous branch arose deep to the transverse scapular ligament. The cutaneous branch was present bilaterally in 3 and unilaterally in 2 cadavers. Every suprascapular nerve with a cutaneous branch had a normal course. After passing deep to the acromioclavicular ligament, the cutaneous branch bent forward near the tip of the acromion process and pierced the deltoid muscle close to its origin and came to lie deep to the deep fascia. In the subcutaneous tissue, it divided into 3-4 twigs and supplied the proximal third of the lateral aspect of the arm within the territory of the axillary nerve. Presumably in normal human arms the cutaneous component of the suprascapular nerve is contained within the axillary nerve.