Question

Identify the muscle marked in the image. What is its nerve supply?

• A. Dorsal scapular nerve
• B. Thoracodorsal nerve
• C. Spinal accessory nerve
• D. Suprascapular nerve

Hint:

This scapular elevator shares its nerve supply (C5 component) with the rhomboids.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: The marked muscle runs from the transverse processes of the upper cervical vertebrae to the superior angle and medial border of the scapula. This is the levator scapulae.

Step 2: Levator scapulae is supplied by branches of C3 and C4 directly, plus C5 fibres carried by the dorsal scapular nerve. The dorsal scapular nerve is therefore its main named nerve supply.

Step 3: Why the others are wrong. The thoracodorsal nerve supplies latissimus dorsi. The spinal accessory nerve supplies trapezius and sternocleidomastoid. The suprascapular nerve supplies supraspinatus and infraspinatus.

Ref: BDC, Textbook of Anatomy, Upper Limb.