The Humerus

The Humerus

The humerus is the

longest and

strongest bone

in the upper limb

The Humerus

It is the only bone in the arm

It is a long bone
The Humerus

It may be divided
into

thirds along its

length
The Humerus

It may be divided
into

thirds along its

length
The Humerus

Proximal third

It may be divided
into

thirds along its

length
The Humerus

Proximal third

It may be divided
into
Middle third
thirds along its

length
The Humerus

Proximal third

It may be divided
into
Middle third
thirds along its

length

Distal Third
The Humerus

The Humerus

articulates proximally

at the Shoulder joint

The Humerus

The Humerus

articulates distally

at the Elbow Joint

The Humerus

The Humerus is

expanded at either end

The Humerus

The Humerus is

expanded at either end

There are a number of

interesting projections

Right side
The Humerus

The Proximal Humerus

Anterior View Posterior View

Right side
The Humerus

The Proximal Humerus

Anterior

Superior or
Bird’s Eye
View

Posterior
Right side
The Humerus

Head of Humerus

Anterior View Posterior View

Right side
The Humerus

Lesser Tuberosity

Anterior View Superior View

Right side
The Humerus
Subscapularis

The 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 Humerus

Bicipital Groove

Anterior View Superior View

Right side
The Humerus

Bicipital Groove

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
The Humerus

Bicipital Groove

The Biceps muscles attaches

distally to the radius

It flexes the elbow joint and

supinates the forearm
The Humerus

Greater Tuberosity

Anterior View Posterior View

The Humerus

Greater Tuberosity

Anterior

Superior or
Bird’s Eye
View

Posterior
The Humerus

3 muscles attach to the Greater Tuberosity

Anterior

Superior or
Bird’s Eye
View

Posterior
The Humerus

3 muscles attach to the Greater Tuberosity

Supraspinatus

Infraspinatus

Teres Minor
The Humerus
Suprapinatus attaches to the upper part of the

Greater Tuberosity of the Humerus

Anterior

Superior or
Bird’s Eye
View

Posterior
The Humerus
Suprapinatus attaches to the upper part of the

Greater Tuberosity of the Humerus

It arises from the

Supraspinous Fossa
of scapula
It abducts the arm
The Humerus
Infraspinatus attaches to the posterior part of the

Greater Tuberosity of the Humerus

Posterior View
The Humerus
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
The Humerus
Teres Minor attaches to the postero-inferior part of

the Greater Tuberosity of the Humerus

Posterior View
The Humerus
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

Posterior View
 3 muscles attach to the
bicipital groove and its
margins

Anterior View
 Pectoralis Major attaches
to the lateral lip of the
bicipital groove

Anterior View
 Pectoralis Major attaches
to the lateral lip of the
bicipital groove

Anterior View
 Latissimus Dorsi attaches
to the floor of the
bicipital groove

Anterior View
 Latissimus Dorsi attaches
to the floor of the
bicipital groove

Anterior View
 Teres Major attaches
to the medial lip of the
bicipital groove

Anterior View
 Teres Major attaches
to the medial lip of the
bicipital groove

Anterior View
 Pnemonic for
muscles attaching to the
bicipital groove

A Lady between two Majors

Anterior View
 Lady between two Majors

Latissimus Dorsi

Anterior View
 Lady between two Majors

Latissimus Dorsi between

Pectoralis Major

Anterior View
 Lady between two Majors

Latissimus Dorsi between

Pectoralis Major

Teres Major

Anterior View
Deltoid attaches to the
lateral aspect of the
shaft of the humerus
Deltoid attaches to the
lateral aspect of the
shaft of the humerus
Coracobrachialis
attaches to the medial
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
Brachialis attaches to the
anterior aspect of the distal
half of the humerus
Triceps Lateral Head
Triceps Lateral Head

Triceps Medial Head

arise from posterior shaft

Triceps Lateral Head

Triceps Medial Head

arise from posterior shaft

The Humerus
The Distal Humerus

Anterior View Posterior View

The Humerus
Medial Epicondyle

Anterior View Posterior View

The Humerus
Medial Epicondyle

Medial View
 Medial Epicondyle
gives attachment to the common
flexor origin

The following muscles attach here

Anterior View
 Medial Epicondyle
gives attachment to the common
flexor origin

Pronator teres

Flexor carpi radialis

Palmaris longus

Flexor digitorum superficialis

Anterior View

Flexor carpi ulnaris

The Humerus
Trochlea

Anterior View Posterior View

The Humerus
Trochlea

Medial View Inferior View

The Humerus
Trochlea

The Trochlea articulates

with the proximal Ulna at
the elbow joint
The Humerus
Coronoid Fossa

The coronoid fossa

articulates with the coronoid
process of the ulna

Anterior View
 Olecranon fossa

The olecranon process

of the ulna articulates
with the
olecranaon fossa

Posterior view
The Humerus
Capitulum

Anterior View Posterior View

The Humerus
Capitulum

The Capitulum
articulates with the
head of the Radius at
the elbow joint
The Humerus
Radial Fossa

The radial head

articulates with the
radial fossa in flexion
of the elbow

Anterior View
posterior view
 Medial epicondyle

posterior view
 Lateral supracondylar ridge

posterior view
 Lateral supracondylar ridge
gives rise to

Brachioradialis

posterior view
 Lateral supracondylar ridge
gives rise to

Brachioradialis

posterior view
 Lateral supracondylar ridge
gives rise to

Brachioradialis

posterior view
 Lateral supracondylar ridge
gives rise to

Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus

posterior view
 Lateral supracondylar ridge
gives rise to

Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus

posterior view
 Lateral epicondyle

gives attachment to the

common extensor origin

Posterior view
 Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis

Extensor Digitorum

Extensor Carpi Ulnaris

Extensor Digiti Minimi

Posterior view
 Anconeus muscle

attaches just below the

common extensor origin

Posterior view
 Anconeus muscle

attaches just below the

common extensor origin

Posterior view
Nerves
There are 3 nerves closely related
to the humerus
 There are 3 nerves closely related
to the humerus

Axillary nerve

touches the posterolateral

aspect of the surgical neck
of humerus
 There are 3 nerves closely related
to the humerus

Radial nerve

touches the lower end of

the spiral groove on the
lateral aspect of the lower
part of the humeral shaft
 There are 3 nerves closely related
to the humerus

Ulnar nerve

touches the posterior

aspect of the medial
epicondyle of humerus
There are 3 nerves closely related
to the humerus

Axillary nerve

Radial nerve

Ulnar nerve