Left dorsal scapular artery

Looks like

An artery running down along the inner edge of the shoulder blade, from the transverse cervical or directly from the subclavian.

What it does

Supplies the rhomboids and levator scapulae, the muscles holding the shoulder blade to the spine.

Keeping it well

Part of the shoulder bypass network; rarely a problem on its own.

Related conditions

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Hypothermia & frostbite
• Kawasaki disease
• Metabolic syndrome
• Orthostatic hypotension & POTS
• Peripheral artery disease
• Phaeochromocytoma & hyperaldosteronism
• Pre-eclampsia
• Raynaud's phenomenon
• Sepsis
• Shock (circulatory failure)
• Takayasu arteritis
• Thoracic outlet syndrome
• Vasculitis (GCA & others)