Left suprascapular artery

Looks like

A branch of the thyrocervical trunk running across the base of the neck and over the top of the shoulder blade.

What it does

Supplies the muscles on the back of the shoulder blade and part of the collarbone and shoulder joint.

Keeping it well

Forms a bypass network around the shoulder; can be damaged in shoulder surgery near the scapular notch.

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)