Humerus

What is the humerus?

The largest bone of the upper limb.

Which bones does the humerus articulate with?

• Scapula (proximally)

• Radius (distally)

• Ulna (distally)

Which joints does the humerus participate in?

• Glenohumeral (shoulder) joint

• Elbow joint

Which part of the humerus articulates with the scapula?

The head of the humerus.

Which part of the scapula articulates with the humeral head?

The glenoid cavity.

What is the anatomical neck of the humerus?

The groove immediately surrounding the head that separates it from the tubercles.

What is the surgical neck of the humerus?

The narrowed region just distal to the greater and lesser tubercles.

It is a common fracture site.

Which tubercles are found on the proximal humerus?

• Greater tubercle

• Lesser tubercle

What separates the greater and lesser tubercles?

The intertubercular sulcus

What is another name for the intertubercular sulcus?

The bicipital groove.

Name the two prominent landmarks on the shaft of the humerus.

• Deltoid tuberosity

• Radial groove

What attaches to the deltoid tuberosity?

The deltoid muscle.

What structures pass through the radial groove?

• Radial nerve

• Profunda brachii artery

Where is the radial groove located?

On the posterior aspect of the humeral shaft.

What is the condyle of the humerus?

The distal articular part of the humerus consisting of:

• Capitulum

• Trochlea

• Associated fossae

What are the two articular surfaces of the distal humerus?

• Capitulum

• Trochlea

Which forearm bone articulates with the capitulum?

The radius.

Which forearm bone articulates with the trochlea?

The ulna.

Capitulum vs trochlea

Capitulum
→ Radius

Trochlea
→ Ulna

Which prominent projections are found at the distal humerus?

• Medial epicondyle

• Lateral epicondyle

What are the supracondylar (supra-epicondylar) ridges?

Sharp ridges proximal to the medial and lateral epicondyles.

Where is the coronoid fossa located?

Anteriorly, above the trochlea.

What enters the coronoid fossa during elbow flexion?

The coronoid process of the ulna.

Where is the radial fossa located?

Anteriorly, above the capitulum.

What enters the radial fossa during elbow flexion?

The head of the radius.

Where is the olecranon fossa located?

Posteriorly, above the trochlea.

What enters the olecranon fossa during elbow extension?

The olecranon of the ulna.

Match each fossa with the structure it receives:

• Coronoid

• Radial

• Olecranon

Fossa	Receives
Coronoid	Coronoid process
Radial	Head of radius
Olecranon	Olecranon

Which nerve is commonly injured in fractures of the surgical neck?

The axillary nerve.

Which artery accompanies the axillary nerve around the surgical neck?

The anterior and posterior circumflex humeral arteries.

Which nerve is commonly injured in fractures involving the radial groove?

The radial nerve.

Which artery accompanies the radial nerve in the radial groove?

The profunda brachii artery.

Which nerve is commonly injured in supracondylar fractures?

The median nerve.

Which nerve is at risk in fractures of the medial epicondyle?

The ulnar nerve.

Match each fracture site with the nerve most at risk:

• Surgical neck

• Radial groove

• Supracondylar

• Medial epicondyle

Fracture	Nerve
Surgical neck	Axillary
Radial groove	Radial
Supracondylar	Median
Medial epicondyle	Ulnar

Label

Label the nerves

What is the relationship between the olecranon and epicondyles in different elbow positions?

• Extension: Olecranon and epicondyles lie in a straight line.

• Flexion: Olecranon forms the apex of a triangle with the medial and lateral epicondyles.

Match each humeral landmark with its function or articulation:

• Head

• Greater & lesser tubercles

• Intertubercular sulcus

• Deltoid tuberosity

• Radial groove

• Capitulum

• Trochlea

• Coronoid fossa

• Radial fossa

• Olecranon fossa

Landmark	Function / Articulation
Head	Articulates with glenoid cavity
Greater & lesser tubercles	Muscle attachment sites
Intertubercular sulcus	Passage of the tendon of the long head of biceps brachii
Deltoid tuberosity	Deltoid muscle attachment
Radial groove	Radial nerve & profunda brachii artery
Capitulum	Articulates with radius
Trochlea	Articulates with ulna
Coronoid fossa	Receives coronoid process
Radial fossa	Receives head of radius
Olecranon fossa	Receives olecranon