[citation needed] The long thoracic nerve descends through the cervicoaxillary canal.

[5][6] The long thoracic nerve innervates the serratus anterior muscle.

[7] Mechanisms of injury include: Symptoms are often minimal – if symptomatic, a posterior shoulder or scapular burning type of pain may be reported.

Some injuries, particularly lesions, can paralyse the serratus anterior muscle to produce a winged scapula.

However, even winging may not be evident until the trapezius stretches enough to reveal an injury several weeks later.