Humerus

Synonyms

Humerus head, greater tuberosity, lesser tuberosity, epicondylus humeri radialis, epicondylus humeri ulnaris, humerus fracture, humerus fracture

Medical: Humerus
English: humerus

anatomy

The Humerus (Humerus), like all bones of the arm, is a long bone.

To the Shoulder joint the upper arm bone (humerus) has a round head (caput humeri). This humerus head is angled by approx. 130 ° in relation to the shaft. The humerus head forms with the shoulder blade part of the shoulder joint and is therefore covered with a layer of cartilage tissue like all joints.

Below the head of the humerus there are two bones (greater tuberosity and lesser tuberosity) to which large muscle groups are attached. The long biceps tendon runs between the bones in a groove (sulcus bicipitalis).

The upper arm bone (humerus) spreads into its two joint roles to the elbow joint.

The muscles of the forearm flexors and forearm extensors attach to the side of the two joint rollers.

The flexors attach to the joint roll on the side of the spoke (on the little finger side) on the so-called epicondyle humeri ulnaris. On the side of the radius, the forearm extensor muscles attach to the epicondylus humeri radialis on the humerus.

Figure humerus

Figure humerus: right humerus from the front (A) and from the back (B)

Humerus

  1. Humerus head -
    Caput humeri
  2. Big hump -
    Greater tuberosity
  3. Small hump -
    Lesser tuberosity
  4. Anatomical neck -
    Collum anatomicum
  5. Surgical Neck -
    Collum chirurgicum
  6. Upper arm shaft -
    Corpus humeri
  7. Inner femoral gnar -
    Medial epicondyle
  8. Outer femoral gnar -
    Lateral epicondyle
  9. Humerus head -
    Capitulum humeri
  10. Upper arm roll -
    Trochlea humeri
  11. Elbow pit -
    Olecranon fossa

You can find an overview of all Dr-Gumpert images at: medical illustrations

The shoulder joint

  1. Greater tuberosity
  2. Biceps tendon above the bicipital sulcus
  3. Humerus head
  4. Humerus shaft

Appointment with ?

I would be happy to advise you!

Who am I?
My name is dr. Nicolas Gumpert. I am a specialist in orthopedics and the founder of and work as an orthopedist at Lumedis.
Various television programs and print media report regularly about my work. On HR television you can see me live every 6 weeks on "Hallo Hessen".
But now enough is indicated ;-)

In order to be able to treat successfully in orthopedics, a thorough examination, diagnosis and a medical history are required.
In our very economic world in particular, there is not enough time to thoroughly grasp the complex diseases of orthopedics and thus initiate targeted treatment.
I don't want to join the ranks of "quick knife pullers".
The aim of all treatment is treatment without surgery.

Which therapy achieves the best results in the long term can only be determined after looking at all of the information (Examination, X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, etc.) be assessed.

You will find me:

  • Lumedis - orthopedic surgeons
    Kaiserstrasse 14
    60311 Frankfurt am Main

You can make an appointment here.
Unfortunately, it is currently only possible to make an appointment with private health insurers. I hope for your understanding!
For more information about myself, see Lumedis - Orthopedists.

function

The humerus connects that Shoulder joint with the elbow joint and thus with the forearm. At the shoulder the humerus forms with the shoulder blade (Scapula) the shoulder joint, a so-called ball joint.
At the elbow joint, the humerus forms the elbow joint with the ulna and radius, a hinge joint.

X-ray image of the elbow joint

  1. Humerus (Humerus)
  2. Cubit (Ulna)
  3. Spoke (radius)

Diseases of the humerus

Tennis elbow (epicondylitis humeri radialis) and golfer's elbow (Ulnar humerus epicondylitis)

The most common disease of the humerus is tennis elbow (Radial humerus epicondylitis). In the Radial humerus epicondylitis it is a painful inflammation of the tendons of the forearm extensor muscles.
Inflammation of the forearm muscles is much less common (Ulnar humerus epicondylitis), as Golfer's elbow referred to as.

There are also fractures of the humerus (upper arm fracture). Fractures close to the elbow, the so-called supracondylar humerus fracture, are particularly common in childhood.

In older age, the humeral head fracture dominates. The joint head breaks into several fragments. Reconstruction is difficult.

Upper arm fractures are rather rare.

Dislocation of the shoulder

Another injury is that Dislocation of the shoulder (Shoulder dislocation). The head of the humerus leaves the joint socket and, in most cases, gets stuck under the raven beak extension (processus coraroideus = coracoid) of the shoulder blade (scapula).