OBJECTIVE To study the anatomical basis of vascularized spina scapular bone flap, which was used in mandibular reconstruction. METHODS Fifteen adult cadavers were adopted in this study. The two common carotid arteries of each cadaver were intubed and perfused with red emulsion respectively. Then the course and distribution of the transverse cervical artery(TCA) and its spina scapular branches were observed on 30 sides. RESULTS The TCA was divided into two segments: the cervical segment originated from the origin of the artery to the superior margin of the trapezius muscle, and the dorsal segment originated from the superior margin of the trapezius muscle to the site where the TCA bifurcated into the superficial and deep branches. The average length and original caliber of the cervical segment were(4.7 +/- 0.1) cm and (4.0 +/- 0.1) mm. The average length and original caliber of the dorsal segment were (5.88 +/- 0.63) cm and (3.30 +/- 0.35) mm. 86.7% spina scapular branches originated from the superficial branch of TCA and 13.3% from TCA. The length of the spina scapular branch was (4.97 +/- 1.68) cm and its external diameter was (2.08 +/- 0.27) mm. It constantly sent 4-8 periosteal branches to spina with 0.20-1.25 mm in caliber. CONCLUSION The spina scapular branch of TCA is one of the main blood supplier to the spina scapular area. The spina scapular flap pedicled with spina scapular branch of TCA may provide a new operation for mandibular reconstruction, whose circumpoint locates at the origin of the dorsal segment and the average length of the pedicle is 10.85 cm which enough to transposite to mandibular area.