The humerus is the longest and strongest
bone in the upper limb.
It may be divided into thirds along its length
Proximal
Middle
Distal
Borders
1. Anterior border
2. Lateral border
3. Medial border
Anterior border
Upper one third of anterior border forms
lateral lip of intertuberculur sulcus.
In middle, it forms the anterior margin of
deltoid tubersity .
Lower half is smooth and rounded.
Lateral border
It prominent only at the lower end , where it
forms the lateral supracondylar ridge.
In middle, it is intrrupted by the radial or
spiral groove.
In upper, it is barely traceable up to the
posterior surface of greater tubercle.
Medial border
Upper part forms the medial lip of
intertubercular sulcus.
In middle, it presents rough strip.
It is continue below with the medial
supracondylar ridge.
Surfaces
1. Anterolateral surface
2. anteromedial surface
3. Posterior surface
Anterolateral surface
It lies between anterior and lateral border.
Upper half of this, is covered with deltoid.
A little above the middle, it is marked by
deltoid tubersity.
Behind deltoid tubersity, radial groove run
downward and forward across the surface.
Anteromedial surface
It lies between anterior and medial borders
Its upper one third is narrow, and forms the
floor of intertubercular sulcus.
Nutrient foramen also seen on this surface,
near medial border
Posterior surface
It lies between medial and lateral borders.
Its upper part, is marked by an oblique
ridge.
Middle one third, is marked by radial
groove.
The Humerus articulates proximally at the
Shoulder joint
The Humerus articulates distally at the
Elbow Joint.
Upper End
The humerus articulates with the scapula at
the shoulder joint at upper end
The upper end of the humerus has a head ,
Head is directed medially, backwards
and upwards.
which forms about one third of a sphere
and articulates with the glenoid cavity of
the scapula.
Immediately below the head, is the
anatomic neck.
The line separating the head from the
rest of upper end is anatomical neck.
Below the neck are the greater and
lesser tuberosities , separated from
each other by the bicipital groove.
Where the upper end of the humerus joins
the shaft is a narrow surgical neck.
Lesser tubercle is an elevation on the
anterior aspect of upper end.
Greater tubercle is an elevation that forms
the lateral part of upper end.
Its poterior aspect is marked by three
impressions :
Upper, Middle, Lower
Itertubercular sulcus or bicipital groove
separates the lesser tubercle medially from
the anterior part of greater tubercular.
The sulcus has medial and lateral lip that
represent downward prolongations of lesser
and greater tubercules.
About halfway down the lateral aspect of
the shaft is a roughened elevation called
the deltoid tuberosity.
Behind and below the tuberosit is a
spiral groove.
Lower End
The lower end of the humerus possesses
the medial and lateral epicondyles for
the attachment of muscles and
Ligaments.
These condyles expended side to side.
Medial epicondyle is a prominent bony
projections on the medial side of lower end.
It is subcutaneous.
Lateral epicondyle is smaller than medial
epicondyle.
Its anterolateral part has a muscular
impression.
Sharp lateral margin just above lower end is
called lateral supracondylar ridge.
The rounded capitulum for articulation
with the head of the radius,
The pulley-shaped trochlea for articulation
with the trochlear notch of the ulna.
The medial edge of trochlea projects down
6mm more than the lateral edge to form
carrying angle.
Above the capitulum is the radial fossa,
which receives the head of the radius
when the elbow is flexed.
Above the trochlea anteriorly is the
coronoid fossa, which during the same
movement receives the coronoid process of
the ulna.
Above the trochlea posteriorly is the
olecranon fossa, which receives the
olecranon process of the ulna when the
elbow joint is extended
Side determination
The upper end is rounded to form head.
Lower end is expanded from side to side
And flattend from before backwards.
Head is directed medially and backwards.
Lesser tubercle projects from the front of
the upper end and is limitted laterly by the
intertubercular sulcus or bicipital groove.
Muscles
attached to
Humerus
Subscapularis muscle attaches to the
Lesser Tuberosity of the Humerus:
It arises from the whole of the ventral
surface of the scapula.
It adducts and internally rotates the arm .
The Long Head of Biceps Tendon
originates from the superior rim of the
glenoid of the scapula.
It passes through the shoulder joint and
enters the bicipital groove, and Biceps
muscles attaches distally to the radius.
It flexes the elbow joint and supinates the
forearm.
3 muscles attach to the Greater Tuberosity
Supraspinatus
Infraspinatus
Teres Minor
Suprapinatus attaches to the upper part
of the Greater Tuberosity of the Humerus
It arises from the Supraspinous Fossa of
scapula Suprapinatus .
It abducts the arm
Infraspinatus attaches to the posterior
part of the Greater Tuberosity of the Humerus
It arises from the Infraspinous Fossa of
scapula. It externally rotates the arm.
Teres Minor attaches to the postero-
inferior part of the Greater Tuberosity of the
Humerus.
It arises from the upper part of lateral border
of the scapula. It externally rotates the arm.
3 muscles attach to the bicipital groove
and its margins
Pectoralis Major attaches to the lateral lip
of the bicipital groove
Latissimus Dorsi attaches to the floor of
the bicipital groove
(a lady between two majors )
Teres Major attaches to the medial lip of
the bicipital groove
Pectoralis major
Pectoralis major
Deltoid attaches to the lateral aspect of the
shaft of the humerus
Coracobrachialis attaches to the medial
aspect of the shaft of the humerus
Brachialis attaches to the anterior aspect
of the distal half of the humerus
Triceps Lateral Head arise from posterior
shaft.
Triceps Medial Head arise from posterior shaft.
Medial Epicondyle gives attachment to the
common flexor origin:
Pronator teres
Flexor carpi radialis
Palmaris longus
Flexor digitorum superficialis
Flexor carpi ulnaris
The Trochlea articulates with the proximal
Ulna at the elbow join
The coronoid fossa articulates with the
coronoid process of the ulna
Posterior view Olecranon fossa The
olecranon process of the ulna articulates
with the olecranaon fossa
The Capitulum articulates with the head of
the Radius at the elbow joint
Lateral supracondylar ridge gives rise to
Brachioradialis.
Lateral supracondylar ridge gives rise to
Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus
Lateral epicondyle gives attachment to the
common extensor origin
Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis
Extensor Digitorum
Extensor Carpi Ulnaris
Extensor Digiti Minimi
Posterior view Anconeus muscle attaches
just below the common extensor origin
There are 3 nerves closely related to the
humerus:
Axillary nerve
Radial nerve
Ulnar nerve
Axillary nerve touches the posterolateral
aspect of the surgical neck of humerus.
Radial nerve touches the lower end of the
spiral groove on the lateral aspect of the
lower part of the humeral shaft.
Ulnar nerve touches the posterior aspect of
the medial epicondyle of humerus
