Circumflex scapular artery

The circumflex scapular artery (Latin for, the shoulder blade encompassing artery ') is an artery of the arm. It originates in the axil of the subscapular artery and runs through the medial axillary gap to the infraspinatus fossa of the scapula. There, it anastomoses with the suprascapular artery and forms with it the shoulder blade braid ( Rete scapulare ).

The circumflex scapular artery supplies the shoulder blade muscles. At closure of the axillary artery, the Rete scapulare allows the formation of a collateral circulation.