Maximus Gage
The humerus is the upper arm bone that runs from the shoulder to the elbow. It is the only bone in the upper arm and is the longest bone in the body after the bones in the legs. The humerus serves as an attachment point for muscles, including the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and teres minor. These muscles contribute to the coordinated movement of the hand, elbow, and forearm, and facilitate overall upper limb functionality and stability. The humerus also plays a crucial role in enabling the wide range of movements at the glenohumeral joint, a ball-and-socket joint formed by the articulation of the humerus with the scapula.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | The humerus is the upper arm bone. |
| Location | The humerus runs from the shoulder to the elbow. |
| Shape | The humerus has a rounded end where it meets the shoulder, a long shaft in the middle, and a flatter end that forms the elbow joint. |
| Connections | The humerus is connected to 13 muscles, including the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and teres minor. It also connects to tendons, ligaments, and parts of the circulatory system. |
| Function | The humerus helps with arm movement, flexion, and rotation. It holds the muscles in place and stabilizes the arm, including the elbow and hand. |
| Injuries | Common injuries to the humerus include fractures, osteoporosis, and damage to nerves or muscles attached to it. |
| Rehabilitation | Physiotherapy can help with recovery from humerus-related injuries, enhancing the range of motion, and addressing functional impairments. |
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What You'll Learn
The humerus is the upper arm bone
The humerus has a rounded end where it meets the shoulder, a long shaft in the middle, and a flattened end that forms the elbow joint. The upper end has a ball shape that fits into the shoulder socket. The head of the humerus forms the proximal articular surface, articulating with the glenoid fossa of the scapula to facilitate a wide range of movements at the glenohumeral joint.
The body of the humerus has three borders and three surfaces. The proximal half of the shaft is cylindrical, while the distal half is triangular. The three surfaces are the anterolateral, anteromedial, and posterior surfaces. The humerus serves as an attachment point for muscles, including the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, coracobrachialis, deltoid, brachialis, and brachioradialis. These muscles contribute to the coordinated movements of the hand and elbow, and the overall function of the upper limb.
Injuries to the humerus are common, including fractures, osteoporosis, and damage to the nerves or muscles attached to it. The surgical neck of the humerus, located distal to the head, is a frequent site of fracture, often caused by a direct blow or fall on an outstretched hand. Humerus fractures can result in radial nerve damage, leading to "wrist drop" due to paralysed wrist extensors. Physiotherapy plays a crucial role in patient recovery, tailoring rehabilitation programs and enhancing the range of motion in the upper limb.
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It supports 13 muscles
The humerus is the bone in your upper arm. It runs from your shoulder to your elbow and is the only bone in your upper arm. It is the longest bone in your upper extremity and is critical to your ability to move your arm. The humerus supports 13 muscles that contribute to the movement of the hand, elbow, and forearm, and therefore the function of the upper limb.
The humerus serves as an attachment point for these 13 muscles, including the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and teres minor. The greater and lesser tuberosities of the humerus are sites of attachment for these muscles and play a key role in facilitating their functionality. The radial (or spiral) groove of the humerus is another site of attachment for muscles, including the coracobrachialis, deltoid, brachialis, and brachioradialis. The deltoid muscle also attaches to the lateral side of the humeral shaft.
The humerus also plays a crucial role in transmitting the forces generated by these muscles, allowing for effective and controlled movements of the upper limb. The anatomical neck, surgical neck, and tuberosities of the humerus provide support for soft tissues, including tendons and ligaments, which contribute to the stability of the shoulder joint.
Injuries to the humerus can often affect the attached muscles and nerves. For example, radial nerve damage is common in humerus fractures and can result in \"wrist drop,\" where the extensors of the wrist are paralysed, causing uncontrolled flexion of the wrist. Axillary nerve damage can also occur, resulting in paralysis of the deltoid and teres minor muscles and difficulty performing abduction of the affected limb.
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Fractures are common
The humerus is the bone in your upper arm, running from your shoulder to your elbow. It is the only bone in your upper arm and is the longest bone in your body after the bones in your legs. It is connected to 13 muscles and helps you move your arm.
The surgical neck of the humerus is a frequent site of fracture, usually caused by a direct blow to the area or falling on an outstretched hand. This type of fracture can result in damage to the axillary nerve and posterior circumflex artery, which can lead to paralysis of the deltoid and teres minor muscles, causing difficulty in performing abduction of the affected limb.
Another type of humerus fracture is a supracondylar fracture, which occurs just above the elbow joint. This type of fracture is more common in children than adults and can damage the brachial artery, either directly or through swelling after the trauma. Damage to the brachial artery can cause Volkmann's ischaemic contracture, or uncontrolled flexion of the hand, as the flexor muscles become fibrotic and shorten.
Treatment for a humerus fracture may involve surgery to repair the bone, followed by physical therapy to regain strength and mobility. Non-operative treatment options include a sling or shoulder immobilizer, with weekly exercises to gradually increase the shoulder's range of motion.
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It's connected to the shoulder and elbow
The humerus is the bone in your upper arm, running from your shoulder to your elbow. It is the only bone in your upper arm and, other than the bones in your legs, it is the longest bone in your body. The humerus is a critical part of your ability to move your arm and supports many important muscles, tendons, ligaments, and parts of your circulatory system.
The head of the humerus forms the proximal articular surface, articulating with the glenoid fossa of the scapula, facilitating a wide range of movements at the glenohumeral joint. The humerus serves as an attachment point for 13 muscles, including the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and teres minor, contributing to the coordinated movement of the hand and elbow.
The humerus has a rounded end where it meets the shoulder, forming a ball-and-socket joint. This allows for a wide range of movements, including internal and external rotation, abduction, adduction, flexion, and extension. The proximal end of the humerus also provides attachment sites for several muscles, including the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and teres minor.
At the elbow, the humerus articulates with the ulna and radius, forming the elbow joint, a synovial hinge joint. The distal portion of the humerus contains three depressions, known as the coronoid, radial, and olecranon fossae, which accommodate the forearm bones during flexion or extension at the elbow. The lateral and medial epicondyles of the humerus provide attachment sites for ligaments and tendons that contribute to elbow stability and movement.
The humerus is susceptible to various injuries and conditions, including fractures, osteoporosis, and nerve or muscle damage. Its connection to the shoulder and elbow joints makes it integral to the overall movement and stability of the upper limb.
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It's the longest bone in the upper extremity
The humerus is the only bone in your upper arm. It is a long bone that runs from your shoulder to your elbow. The humerus is your upper arm bone and, other than the bones in your legs, it is the longest bone in your body. It is made up of several parts, including the upper (or proximal) end, which connects to the shoulder joint. The upper end has a ball shape that fits into the shoulder socket. The proximal end contains the head (or humeral head), greater tuberosity, lesser tuberosity, and intertubercular sulcus (biceps groove). The shaft is the long middle portion of the humerus that supports the weight of the upper arm and gives it its shape. It is slightly rounded at the top near the shoulder and flatter at the bottom near the elbow. The lower extremity consists of two epicondyles, two processes (trochlea and capitulum), and three fossae (radial fossa, coronoid fossa, and olecranon fossa).
The humerus serves as an attachment point for 13 muscles, which contribute to the movement of the hand, elbow, and upper limb. These muscles include the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and teres minor. The humerus also facilitates forearm movements through its articulation with the radius and ulna at the elbow joint, enabling flexion and extension movements of the forearm and contributing to the overall dexterity of the upper limb.
Injuries to the humerus are common, especially during sports or trauma, such as falls or car accidents. The most common issues affecting the humerus include fractures, osteoporosis, and damage to nerves or muscles attached to it. When the humerus is injured, it is likely that the muscles and nerves attached to it will also be damaged. This can include rotator cuff injuries, dislocated shoulders, and radial nerve damage.
The humerus plays a crucial role in the movement and stability of the upper limb. Its length and structure provide support and facilitate the attachment of important muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The understanding of humerus anatomy is essential in the field of physiotherapy, as it allows for the design of effective rehabilitation programs and interventions to enhance the range of motion and address functional impairments.
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Frequently asked questions
The humerus is the bone that forms the upper arm. It is the only bone in the upper arm and is the longest bone in the upper extremity.
The humerus runs from the shoulder to the elbow, connecting the scapula and the two bones of the lower arm, the radius and ulna.
The humerus serves as an attachment to 13 muscles, including the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, coracobrachialis, deltoid, brachialis, brachioradialis, and triceps.
Common issues that affect the humerus include fractures, osteoporosis, and damage to nerves or muscles attached to it. Fractures can occur at the surgical neck or as a result of a direct blow to the area or a fall on an outstretched hand.
The humerus helps with the movement and stability of the upper limb. It also serves as an attachment site for muscles that contribute to the movement of the hand and elbow.
