Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsLocationAnatomyFunctionAssociated ConditionsTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Location
Anatomy
Function
Associated Conditions
Treatment
The humerus is your upper arm bone. It is the longest bone in the upper part of your body and is connected to many important muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves.
The humerus helps support your shoulder and is responsible for movement between your shoulder and elbow.
Location of the Humerus
The humerus is your upper arm bone. It is the only bone in the upper arm, and it is also the largest bone in the upper extremity.
The top of the humerus joins with an area called theglenoid fossaon the scapula or shoulder blade. The bottom of the humerus touches the top of theradiusandulnawhich joins the upper arm with the lower arm.
The meeting of these bones allows for the wide range of motion that is possible at the shoulder joint, along with movement at the elbow.
The humerus can be divided into several parts.
Proximal Aspect
The rhythm between thescapulaand the humerus is important for adequate shoulder function.
The humeral head makes up a portion of the ball-and-socket shoulder joint. This type of joint is the most versatile in the body, allowing for all degrees of motion.This area also serves as the insertion point for muscles that make up the shoulder girdle. This includes the long head of the biceps tendon, along withsupraspinatus,infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis which are known as the rotator cuff muscles.
The humeral head makes up a portion of the ball-and-socket shoulder joint. This type of joint is the most versatile in the body, allowing for all degrees of motion.
This area also serves as the insertion point for muscles that make up the shoulder girdle. This includes the long head of the biceps tendon, along withsupraspinatus,infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis which are known as the rotator cuff muscles.
The anatomical neck is a slightly narrower area just below the tubercles. Children have a growth plate—a layer of soft cartilage—on this part of the humerus.
Shaft
The humerus shaft is the long, middle portion of the humerus. It supports the weight of your upper arm.
The shaft includes a rough, triangular prominence called the deltoid tuberosity and the radial groove, a shallow depression in the back of the humerus that protects the radial nerve and deep brachial artery.
Distal Aspect
The lower part of the humerus is the top of the elbow joint. The front part of the lower humerus has two projections called thetrochleaand thecapitulum. The capitulum is knob-shaped, and the trochlea is shaped like a spool.
The borders of the distal humerus just above the elbow joint are called the supracondylar ridges. The bumps at the bottom of the humerus are called theepicondyles.
Right humerus vs. left humerusOn the right humerus, the capitulum is located on the right side of the bone. On the left humerus, the capitulum is located on the left side of the bone.
Right humerus vs. left humerus
On the right humerus, the capitulum is located on the right side of the bone. On the left humerus, the capitulum is located on the left side of the bone.
The humerus works in conjunction with muscles to:
Ligaments also assist the muscles and provide motion to the shoulder joint.
A large network of nerves called the brachial plexus lies across the front portion of the humerus. This provides sensation and motion to every muscle in the arm and to portions of the neck and spinal cord.
The humerus can be injured or broken during a traumatic event such as a car accident. When this happens, muscles and nerves can also become injured.
The shoulder joint is also vulnerable to injury when improperly moved or subjected to excessive force.
Tendonitis or Bursitis
This is a common condition in which the tendons surrounding the humerus or the humerus itself becomes inflamed and irritated.This can be age-related or due to overuse such as in a job with repetitive motions or sports that require frequent forceful movement of the arm.
Frozen Shoulder
Frozen shoulder is the condition resulting from the shoulder capsule thickening, causing painful movement and significant stiffness. While this is a connective tissue dysfunction, it occurs directly over the head of the humerus which can cause degeneration and misalignment to the humerus if not treated accordingly.
Osteoarthritis
As with most large joints, the head of the humerus is susceptible to osteoarthritis. This condition typically occurs with age and results from the wearing down of the cartilage at the end of a bone.This can cause significant pain from joint motion.
Dislocation
Shoulder subluxationis a similar injury, but this term describes a partial separation of the humeral head from the glenoid socket.
Fracture
Humerus fractures are either proximal fractures or humerus shaft fractures. A proximal fracture occurs close to the shoulder joint, while a shaft fracture is located at the middle part of the upper arm.Symptoms of a humerus fracture can include:
The anatomical neck of the humerus is vulnerable to fracture due to its width. Unfortunately, a fracture at this part of the humerus can be damaging to children and adolescents, as this is also the location of the growth plate.
Conditions of the Growth Plate
The growth plate is an integral yet sensitive part of the humerus. Birth defects, infection, and/or trauma can act on this growth plate to disrupt the growth process. This can lead to shortening or other deformities of the humerus.
In situations such as these, medical intervention can assist with bone lengthening techniques to achieve a more normalized and functional appearance of the bone.
Verywell / Gary Ferster
Fracture Treatment
As with most fractures,treatment of humeral neck fracturesfollows a protocol to maximize function. Though similar, there are different protocols to follow totreat fracturesof the shaft or distal end of the humerus.
Can you recover from a humerus fracture without surgery?Some people require surgery to fix a broken humerus, but this depends on the pattern of the fracture and injuries to the surrounding tissues. Fractures that don’t require surgery are usually treated with a splint or cast.
Can you recover from a humerus fracture without surgery?
Some people require surgery to fix a broken humerus, but this depends on the pattern of the fracture and injuries to the surrounding tissues. Fractures that don’t require surgery are usually treated with a splint or cast.
A broken humerus may be fixed with open reduction or closed reduction, depending on the specifics of the injury.
How long does a broken humerus take to heal?Depending on the severity of the injury, it may take several weeks to several months to recover from a broken humerus.
How long does a broken humerus take to heal?
Depending on the severity of the injury, it may take several weeks to several months to recover from a broken humerus.
Summary
The humerus is the upper arm bone. It is the longest bone in the upper body. The humerus is responsible for supporting your shoulder and for movement between your elbow and shoulder.
The humerus can be injured in a few different ways, including dislocation and fracture. Some other conditions that affect the humerus include tendonitis, frozen shoulder, and osteoarthritis.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cedars-Sinai.Bursitis of the shoulder.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Arthritis of the shoulder.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Shoulder dislocation.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Humerus fracture (upper arm fracture).Johns Hopkins Medicine. Arm fracture open reduction and internal fixation.Additional ReadingShoulder Conditions. MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center. Published January 2019.Carson J. Proximal Humeral Fracture Protocol.Premier Bone and Joint. Published March 30, 2011.Chung A.Shoulder Structure, Function and Common Problems. Healthpages.org. Published March 24, 2019.Mostafa E, Varacallo M.Anatomy, Shoulder and Upper Limb, Humerus.Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls; 2019.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cedars-Sinai.Bursitis of the shoulder.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Arthritis of the shoulder.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Shoulder dislocation.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Humerus fracture (upper arm fracture).Johns Hopkins Medicine. Arm fracture open reduction and internal fixation.Additional ReadingShoulder Conditions. MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center. Published January 2019.Carson J. Proximal Humeral Fracture Protocol.Premier Bone and Joint. Published March 30, 2011.Chung A.Shoulder Structure, Function and Common Problems. Healthpages.org. Published March 24, 2019.Mostafa E, Varacallo M.Anatomy, Shoulder and Upper Limb, Humerus.Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls; 2019.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Cedars-Sinai.Bursitis of the shoulder.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Arthritis of the shoulder.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Shoulder dislocation.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Humerus fracture (upper arm fracture).Johns Hopkins Medicine. Arm fracture open reduction and internal fixation.
Cedars-Sinai.Bursitis of the shoulder.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Arthritis of the shoulder.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Shoulder dislocation.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Humerus fracture (upper arm fracture).
Johns Hopkins Medicine. Arm fracture open reduction and internal fixation.
Shoulder Conditions. MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center. Published January 2019.Carson J. Proximal Humeral Fracture Protocol.Premier Bone and Joint. Published March 30, 2011.Chung A.Shoulder Structure, Function and Common Problems. Healthpages.org. Published March 24, 2019.Mostafa E, Varacallo M.Anatomy, Shoulder and Upper Limb, Humerus.Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls; 2019.
Shoulder Conditions. MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center. Published January 2019.
Carson J. Proximal Humeral Fracture Protocol.Premier Bone and Joint. Published March 30, 2011.
Chung A.Shoulder Structure, Function and Common Problems. Healthpages.org. Published March 24, 2019.
Mostafa E, Varacallo M.Anatomy, Shoulder and Upper Limb, Humerus.Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls; 2019.
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