THE TRANSVERSE CERVICAL ARTERY 



565 



The branches of the transverse scapular are: — (1) the nutrient, to the clavicle; (2) the 

 acromial [ramus acromiahs] to the arterial rete or plexus on the acromial process, to reach 

 which it pierces the trapezius; (3) the articular, to the acromio-clavicular joint and shoulder- 

 joint; (4) the subscapular, given off as the artery is passing over the transverse scapular hga- 

 ment, descends to the subscapular fossa between the subscapularis and the bone, and anas- 

 tomoses with the infrascapular branch of the circumflex (dorsal) scapular artery, and with 

 the subscapular and transverse cervical arteries; (5) the supraspinous branches, which ramify 

 in the supraspinous fossa, and supply the supra-spinatus muscle and the periosteum, and the 

 nutrient artery to the bone; (6) the infraspinous branches, which ramify in a similar way in 

 the infraspinous fossa, giving off twigs to the infra-spinatus muscle, the periosteum, and the 

 bone. 



Fig. 461. — Scheme of Anastomoses of the Right Scapular Arteries. (Walsham.) 



Subscapular branch of transverse scapular artery 



Supraspinous branch of transverse scapular artery 



Descending branch 

 of transverse cer- 

 vical artery 



Branch of inter 

 costal artery 



Branch of inter- 

 costal artery 



Continuation of de- 

 scending branch 

 of transverse cer- 

 vical artery 



Transverse scapular artery 



Acromial branch of 



thoraco-acromial 

 Acromial rete 



Subscapular branch of 



transverse scapular 



artery 

 Infraspinous branch of 



transverse scapular 



artery 

 Subscapular branch of 

 axillary artery 



Circumflex scapular artery 



Infrascapular branch of cir- 

 cumflex scapular artery 



Dorsal thoracic branch of 

 subscapular artery 



THE TRANSVERSE CERVIC.IL ARTERY 



The tranverse cervical artery [a. transversa colli], somewhat larger than the 

 transverse scapular (suprascapular), runs like the latter vessel laterally across the 

 root of the neck, but on a slightly higher transverse plane, and a little above the 

 clavicle. At its origin from the thyreo-cervical trunk (thyreoid axis) it lies under 

 the sterno-mastoid; on leaving the cover of this muscle, it crosses the upper part 

 of the subclavian triangle, lying here only beneath the platysma and cervical 

 fascia; further laterally, it passes beneath the anterior margin of the trapezius and 

 omo-hyoid muscle, and at the lateral margin of the levator scapulae divides into a 

 descending (posterior scapular) and an ascending (superficial cervical) branch. 

 In this course it crosses the phrenic nerve, the scalenus anterior, the brachial 

 plexus, and the scalenus medius. Sometimes it passes between the cords of the 

 brachial plexus. 



The branches of the transverse cervical artery are: — (1) a descending 

 (posterior scapular) ; and (2) an ascending (or superficial) cervical. The descend- 

 ing branch occasionally arises from the third portion of the subclavian artery. 



(1) The descending branch, or posterior scapular [ramus descendens] the apparent continua- 

 tion of the transverse cervical artery, begins at the lateral border of the levator scapulae, and, 

 continuing its course beneath this muscle to the upper and posterior angle of the scapula, turns 

 downward and skirts along the posterior border of the scapula, between the serratus anterior 



