title: Morphometry and variations of the human suprascapular notch.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study proposes a simple method to study variations in shape and dimensions of suprascapular notch, to classify different types and subtypes of notch and to measure the thickness of superior transverse scapular bar (ossified superior transverse ligament of scapula).
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven hundred and twenty-eight dried scapulae were observed, examined and studied in detail. Scapulae with suprascapular notch, with suprascapular foramen having varying degree of ossification in the form of transverse scapular bar were included in the present study. Measurements of suprascapular notch and superior transverse scapular bar were taken with the help of digital vernier calliper and recorded in millimetres. The superior transverse diameter, inferior transverse diameter, depth, maximum thickness of suprascapular notch and thickness at lateral and medial end of transverse scapular bar, mean thickness of superior transverse scapular bar were recorded. The data was analyzed statistically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed five types of notch in scapulae, type I: without a discrete notch (ill defined), 25 (3.43%); type II: a "V" shaped notch, 192 (26.37%); type III: "U" shaped notch, 383 (52.60%); type IV: inverted "V" shaped notch, 28 (3.84%); type V with absent suprascapular notch: 6 (0.82%). Type II and type III were again subclassified into subtypes (a, b, c and d) on the basis of depth of notch. Scapulae with superior transverse scapular bar (n=94, 12.91%) were classified according to variation in mean thickness of transverse scapular bar (MTSB).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study will help clinicians to correlate suprascapular nerve entrapment with a specific type of suprascapular notch and notch with ossified transverse scapular ligament.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jodhpur 342005, Rajasthan, India. Electronic address: dushyantanatomy@gmail.com.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Agrawal
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jodhpur 342005, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jodhpur 342005, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Dixit
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jodhpur 342005, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghatak
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Era's Lucknow Medical College, Lucknow, India.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bharadwaj
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jodhpur 342005, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Dr. Sarvepali Radhakrishnan Rajasthan Ayurved University, Jodhpur, India.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Agrawal
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jodhpur 342005, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Nayyar
mesh_terms: D063405:Anatomic Variation; D006801:Humans; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000503:physiopathology; D010012:Osteogenesis; D012540:Scapula / Q000033:anatomy & histology*
keywords: Bord supérieur de la scapula; Foramen suprascapulaire; Incisure scapulaire; Ligament transverse supérieur de la scapula; Nerf suprascapulaire; Scapula; Scapular notch; Superior transverse ligament of the scapula; Suprascapular foramen; Suprascapular nerve; Top edge of the scapula