Shoulder: suprascapular nerve entrapment: practice question

A Anatomy question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Anatomy · Shoulder: suprascapular nerve entrapment

Sample item

A 28-year-old volleyball player has deep posterior shoulder pain and weakness of external rotation with visible wasting below the spine of the scapula. Initiation of abduction is normal and sensation is normal. MRI shows a ganglion cyst. Where is the nerve compressed?

ADorsal scapular nerve beneath levator scapulaeBAxillary nerve in the quadrangular spaceCSuprascapular nerve at the spinoglenoid notchDSuprascapular nerve under the superior transverse scapular ligament

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Suprascapular nerve at the spinoglenoid notch

The suprascapular nerve supplies supraspinatus and then runs around the lateral border of the spine of the scapula through the spinoglenoid notch to supply infraspinatus. Compression at the notch spares supraspinatus (abduction is normal) and causes isolated infraspinatus weakness and wasting. Compression at the superior transverse ligament would affect both muscles.

Option by option

A. Dorsal scapular nerve beneath levator scapulae
The dorsal scapular nerve supplies the rhomboids and levator scapulae, not infraspinatus.
B. Axillary nerve in the quadrangular space
Axillary nerve compression weakens deltoid and teres minor and gives sensory loss over the lateral shoulder.
C. Suprascapular nerve at the spinoglenoid notch (correct)
Correct. Compression at the spinoglenoid notch gives isolated infraspinatus involvement.
D. Suprascapular nerve under the superior transverse scapular ligament
A lesion at the superior ligament would weaken supraspinatus as well, impairing initiation of abduction.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this Anatomy question

What is the answer to this Anatomy question?

The best answer is C, Suprascapular nerve at the spinoglenoid notch. The suprascapular nerve supplies supraspinatus and then runs around the lateral border of the spine of the scapula through the spinoglenoid notch to supply infraspinatus.

Why is "Dorsal scapular nerve beneath levator scapulae" not the answer?

The dorsal scapular nerve supplies the rhomboids and levator scapulae, not infraspinatus.

Why is "Axillary nerve in the quadrangular space" not the answer?

Axillary nerve compression weakens deltoid and teres minor and gives sensory loss over the lateral shoulder.

Why is "Suprascapular nerve under the superior transverse scapular ligament" not the answer?

A lesion at the superior ligament would weaken supraspinatus as well, impairing initiation of abduction.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Shoulder: suprascapular nerve entrapment in Anatomy. Compression at the notch spares supraspinatus (abduction is normal) and causes isolated infraspinatus weakness and wasting. Compression at the superior transverse ligament would affect both muscles.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Shoulder: suprascapular nerve entrapment?

Learn every nerve by its route, its muscles and what a lesion looks like at the bedside. That one habit answers a large share of questions. Then use the flashcards and the other Anatomy questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.