Suprascapular foramen: a rare variation caused by ossified suprascapular ligaments

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of the suprascapular foramen in West Anatolian population. Materials and methods: Eighty-one dried human scapulae of West Anatolian people of unknown ages and gender belonging to the Anatomy Department Laboratory of Dokuz Eylul University Medical School were examined macroscopically. The vertical and transverse diameters of the suprascapular foramen and central thickness of the ossified ligaments were measured with calliper in millimetres and digital calliper, respectively. Results: We observed the suprascapular foramen due to ossification of the suprascapular ligament only in 2 of 81 (2.47%) scapulae. The vertical and transverse diameters of the suprascapular foramen and central thickness of the ossified ligaments (No. 1 and No. 2) were measured as 8.0 mm vs. 4.0 mm, 3.6 mm vs. 2.0 mm and 4.0 mm vs. 1.4 mm, respectively. Conclusions: The suprascapular foramen caused by ossified suprascapular ligament is rarely observed variation in West Anatolian population. (Folia Morphol 2016; 75, 1: 21–26)