The infraspinous fossa is the larger posterior scapular depression below the scapular spine, providing the origin of the infraspinatus muscle. Its medial boundary is the medial scapular border; its lateral boundary is the posterior glenoid neck. The suprascapular nerve and artery enter the infraspinous fossa from the spinoglenoid notch at the lateral scapular spine root to supply the infraspinatus.
The infraspinous fossa and the spinoglenoid notch at its lateral end are relevant in suprascapular nerve entrapment at the spinoglenoid notch, which causes isolated infraspinatus atrophy and external rotation weakness, seen in overhead athletes and associated with paralabral cysts at the posterosuperior labrum. CT or MRI identifies the cyst compressing the nerve at the notch, and arthroscopic labral repair with cyst decompression resolves the entrapment. Infraspinatus atrophy from any cause (rotator cuff tear, suprascapular nerve palsy) is visible as a hollowing below the scapular spine.
Paralabral cyst from a posterosuperior labral tear compresses the suprascapular nerve at the spinoglenoid notch, producing isolated infraspinatus wasting and external rotation weakness without supraspinatus involvement, managed by arthroscopic labral repair and cyst decompression restoring nerve function.
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