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Supraspinatus muscle

The supraspinatus muscle is a small but vital component of the rotator cuff group located in the upper back, above the spine of the scapula. It plays a crucial role in shoulder stability and movement, particularly in initiating arm abduction. Understanding its anatomy, function, blood supply, nerve supply, and imaging characteristics is essential in diagnosing and treating shoulder pathologies.

Anatomy and Function

  • The supraspinatus is one of the four rotator cuff muscles of the shoulder.

  • It assists primarily in the abduction of the arm, particularly the first 15 degrees.

  • It also helps stabilize the head of the humerus in the glenoid cavity of the scapula.

Origin

  • Supraspinous fossa of the scapula (above the spine of the scapula).

Insertion

  • Superior facet of the greater tubercle of the humerus.

Nerve Supply

  • Suprascapular nerve (C5, C6).

Artery Supply

  • Suprascapular artery (branch of the thyrocervical trunk).

Vein Supply

  • Suprascapular vein (drains into the external jugular vein).

MRI Appearance

  • T1-weighted images: Muscle appears as intermediate signal intensity, fat is high signal.

  • T2-weighted images: Muscle tissue is low to intermediate signal; edema or tears appear as high signal.

  • STIR (Short Tau Inversion Recovery): Muscle shows low signal intensity in healthy tissue; hyperintensity is seen if there is edema, inflammation, or acute injury.

CT Appearance

  • Supraspinatus muscle is visualized as soft tissue density superior to the spine of the scapula, best appreciated with muscle window settings.

MRI images

Supraspinatus muscle coronal imaage

MRI images

Supraspinatus muscle sagittal mri image

MRI IMAGE

Supraspinatus muscle anatomy MRI axial image -img-00000-00000

CT image

Supraspinatus muscle ct sag image

MRI image

Supraspinatus muscle sag cross sectional anatomy 3T MRI AI enhanced radiology image-img-00000-00000