The term that corresponds to the upper transverse ligament of the shoulder blade is which?

• A. Serrate
• B. Spinoglenoid notch
• C. Iliopubic eminence
• D. Superior transverse scapular ligament

Answer: (D)

The upper transverse ligament of the shoulder blade is the same structure as the superior transverse scapular ligament. It spans the suprascapular notch on the scapula, converting it into the suprascapular foramen. This ligamental bridge is what this term names, and it’s the key feature that identifies it. A useful detail is that the suprascapular nerve typically passes over this ligament through the foramen, while the suprascapular artery usually passes beneath it—this distinction helps differentiate vessels and nerves in this region.

The other options don’t describe this structure: the term serrate relates to a muscle or texture rather than a ligament in this context; the spinoglenoid notch is a location, not a ligament; the iliopubic eminence is a pelvic structure and irrelevant to the shoulder blade.