Abstract:

Objective　To provide anatomic basis of blood supply for preventing and treating of shoulder joint disease and reconstructing of shoulder joint function.　Methods　40 specimens of adult upper limbs fixed and perfused with red emulsion were used. Supraspinatus was dissected for exploring its anatomic features.　Results　The blood supply of supraspinatus was mainly from the suprascapular artery and the descending branch of transverse cervical artery. The outer diameter at the beginning was (2.9±0.3) mm, and the length of main trunk was (4.8±0.7) cm. The muscular branches supplying supraspinatus divided into two to three branches to enter the muscle belly above or below the scapula ligamentum transversum. The place of the branches entering the muscle belly located at the point (1.9±0.2) mm antero-inferior to the scapula ligamentum transversum. The arterial anastomosis of tendon of supraspinatus was affluent at the transmigration part and expansion part. While the capillary was rare at the place 1 cm distal to the insertion of tendon in the parenchyma part, which was a apparent area lacking of blood vessels. The supraspinatus was mainly innervated by suprascapular nerve, which divided into two to three branches accompanied by blood vessels to innervate supraspinatus.　Conclusions　On repairing of the rotator cuff tear or injury, it is unsuitable to simply sew the broken end. The broken end sew should be performed after cutting the ischemic tissue or transferring suitable tendon medium, for improving the regional blood supply, which is helpful for healing.

Key words:  Supraspinatus, Tendon, Rotator cuff