The inferior transverse scapular ligament, also known as the spinoglenoid ligament is a ligamentous structure with a variablly band-like triangular or quadrangular irregular shape located within the spinoglenoid notch of the scapula 1-3.
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Gross anatomy
The inferior transverse scapular ligament runs from the lateral scapular spine to the posterior glenoid, forming a foramen (with the scapular body anteriorly as the floor and the ligament posteriorly as the roof) through which the inferior branch of suprascapular nerve (supplying infraspinatus muscle) and artery pass 1.
Variant anatomy
variably absent (up to 33% in cadaveric studies) 1-3
ligamentous morphology
membranous morphology
variable distance from ligament to bone (and hence the size of foramen), reported between 3-11 mm, resulting in varying risk of compression of the inferior branch of the suprascapular nerve 1
Related pathology
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suprascapular nerve entrapment
although compressive neuropathy is most commonly due to spinoglenoid ganglion cysts secondary to para-labral tears, a smaller proportion of compressive neuropathy is caused directly by the spinoglenoid ligament itself 3
treated with open or arthroscopic release of spinoglenoid ligament 3,4
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