a. Anat. [ad. mod.L. suprāspinālis: see SUPRA- 1 b and SPINAL.] Situated above or upon a (or the) spine.
a. Situated above the spine of the scapula: opp. to infraspinal (see INFRA- B.).
1733. G. Douglas trans. Winslow’s Anat., III. iv. § 7 (1756), I. 183. Supra-Spinatus … is a thick narrow Muscle,… filling all the Supra-Spinal Cavity of the Scapula.
1835–6. Todd’s Cycl. Anat., I. 569/2. The spine is … so placed as to divide the dorsum of the scapula into a supra-spinal and infra-spinal depression. Ibid. (1847–9), IV. 435/1. The supra-spinal branch [of the supra-scapular artery] … is distributed to the supra-spinatus muscle.
b. = SUPRASPINOUS b.
1835–6. Todd’s Cycl. Anat., I. 374/1. On the lips of the spinous processes of the neck some fibres may be shown, to which the name supra-spinal muscles has been given.
1855. Dunglison, Med. Lex., Supra-spinal ligaments, are … 1. The Dorso-lumbo-supra-spinal ligament,… extending above the spinous processes of the dorsal and lumbar vertebræ…. Cervical-supra-spinal ligament,… which extends above all the cervical spinous processes.
c. (See quot.)
1836–9. Todd’s Cycl. Anat., II. 980/1. A distinct vascular canal … is extended along the upper surface of the abdominal portion of the cerebro-spinal cord in perfect Lepidopterous insects…. We have designated this structure the supraspinal vessel.
