
...
Shaft.
Body of humerus | |
---|---|
FMA | 13303 |
Anatomical terms of bone |
Where is the humerus located in the body?
The humerus (/ ˈhjuːmərəs /, plural: humeri) is a long bone in the arm that runs from the shoulder to the elbow. It connects the scapula and the two bones of the lower arm, the radius and ulna, and consists of three sections.
Is the humerus a long bone or short bone?
Your humerus is classified as a long bone. Other types of long bones include the radius and ulna in your forearm and the femur in your upper leg. Speaking of long, the humerus is the longest bone in your arm.
What is the scientific name for the humerus?
Anatomical terms of bone. [edit on Wikidata] The humerus (/ˈhjuːmərəs/, plural: humeri) is a long bone in the arm that runs from the shoulder to the elbow. It connects the scapula and the two bones of the lower arm, the radius and ulna, and consists of three sections.
What is the difference between humeral and humerus?
"Humeral" redirects here. It is not to be confused with humoral immunity. The humerus (/ ˈhjuːmərəs /, plural: humeri) is a long bone in the arm that runs from the shoulder to the elbow. It connects the scapula and the two bones of the lower arm, the radius and ulna, and consists of three sections.

Do humans have humerus?
The humerus is the bone in your upper arm that's located between your elbow and your shoulder. Its main function is to provide support for your shoulder and a wide variety of movements for your arm.
How many humerus bones are there?
Your arm is made up of three bones: the upper arm bone (humerus) and two forearm bones (the ulna and the radius). The term "broken arm" may refer to a fracture in any of these bones.
What is the humerus of the body?
The humerus is a long bone which consists of a shaft (diaphysis) and two extremities (epiphysis). It is the longest bone of the upper extremity.
Which bone is the humerus?
The humerus is a long bone located in the upper arm, between the shoulder joint and elbow joint. The proximal humerus connects to the shoulder through the glenoid fossa of the scapula, forming the glenohumeral joint. The distal humerus articulates at the elbow to the radius and ulna in the forearm.
Is the humerus the largest bone?
Anatomical Parts The humerus is the longest and largest bone of the upper extremity that runs from the shoulder to the elbow. It connects the scapula and the lower arm (consisting of the radius and ulna), and consists of three sections.
How big is a human humerus?
Humerus The length has been measured between the articular surfaces. It varies from 9j" to 138k, giving an average of 11-6", when both sexes are taken together. In males, the average length is 12", whereas in females it is 11-1".
Why is humerus called funny bone?
Funny Bone Facts: What Is the Funny Bone? The funny bone is actually a nerve that runs along the outside of your elbow. It is called the ulnar nerve. When it bangs or rubs up against your humerus, one of the bones in your upper arms, it creates the strange burning or tingling sensation from which it gets its name.
What is the longest bone in the body?
The femur boneThe femur bone is the longest and strongest bone in the body. Located in the thigh, it spans the hip and knee joints and helps maintain upright posture by supporting the skeleton.
What is femur and humerus?
The humerus and the femur are corresponding bones of the arms and legs, respectively. While their parts are similar in general, their structure has been adapted to differing functions. The head of the humerus is almost hemispherical, while that of the femur forms about two-thirds of a sphere.
What is the upper arm called?
Humerus. The humerus is a long bone in the upper arm. It's located between the scapula and the elbow joint.
What is the head of the humerus?
The head of humerus, nearly hemispherical in form, is directed upward, medialward, and a little backward, and articulates with the glenoid cavity of the scapula.
How thick is a humerus bone?
Results. The cortical thickness values ranged from 0.33 mm to 3.5 mm. Fifteen specimens demonstrated a consistent pattern of progressive cortical thinning that increased between the bicipital groove (thickest), the lesser tuberosity and the greater tuberosity (thinnest).
Why is humerus called funny bone?
Funny Bone Facts: What Is the Funny Bone? The funny bone is actually a nerve that runs along the outside of your elbow. It is called the ulnar nerve. When it bangs or rubs up against your humerus, one of the bones in your upper arms, it creates the strange burning or tingling sensation from which it gets its name.
How many carpal bones are there?
eight carpal bonesThere are eight carpal bones, which divide into two rows: a proximal row and a distal row.
What is the longest bone in the body?
The femur boneThe femur bone is the longest and strongest bone in the body. Located in the thigh, it spans the hip and knee joints and helps maintain upright posture by supporting the skeleton.
How is the humerus formed?
The adult humerus develops from three individual bones in the fetus: the diaphysis, or central shaft, and two epiphyses that form the end caps of the bone. Between these three bones is a thin layer of hyaline cartilage known as the epiphyseal plate or growth plate.
What is the humerus?
The humerus is a long bone of the upper arm. It is one of the longest bones in the body, which makes it more prone to fractures upon impact. The wo...
Where is the humerus located?
The humerus bone is located in the upper arm, between the shoulder joint and the elbow joint. The shoulder joint, also known as the glenohumeral jo...
What is the function of the humerus?
The humerus provides structural support and serves as an insertion point for many important muscles. The pectoralis major (“pecs”) and latissimus d...
What are the most important facts to know about the humerus?
The humerus is a long bone located in the upper arm, between the shoulder joint and elbow joint. The proximal humerus connects to the shoulder thro...
What are some interesting facts about the Humerus?
What are the most important facts to know about the humerus? The humerus is a long bone located in the upper arm, between the shoulder joint and elbow joint. The proximal humerus connect s to the shoulder through the glenoid fossa of the scapula, forming the glenohumeral joint. The distal humerus articulates at the elbow to ...
Where is the humerus bone located?
The humerus bone is located in the upper arm, between the shoulder joint and the elbow joint. The shoulder joint, also known as the glenohumeral joint, is a ball and socket joint. The ball is the humeral head, and the socket is the glenoid fossa of the scapula.
What are the four rotator cuff muscles?
The joint is supported by ligaments, and surrounded by the four rotator cuff muscles and their tendons: the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis. These muscles originate on the scapula and insert on the humeral head. The proximal humerus is the part of the bone that is most prone to fracture.
Which muscle is articulated at the elbow to the radius and ulna in the forearm?
The distal humerus articulates at the elbow to the radius and ulna in the forearm. The humerus provides structural support to the arm and is an insertion point for many important muscles in the upper body, such as pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi, rotator cuff muscles, and more. The brachial artery also travels along the humerus, ...
Which muscles attach to the humerus?
Several other muscles that provide motion for the arm and upper body attach to the humerus, these include the deltoids, brachioradialis, coracobrachialis, pronator teres, teres major, brachialis, and common flexor and extensor tendons. Finally, the rotator cuff muscles at the shoulder connect to the humerus to stabilize the glenohumeral joint, ...
What is the longest bone in the body?
The humerus is a long bone of the upper arm. It is one of the longest bones in the body, which makes it more prone to fractures upon impact. The word “humerus” comes from the Latin word for upper arm.
Which veins run close to the humerus?
The brachial artery also travels along the humerus, supplying oxygen and other nutrients in the blood to the arm while the basilic vein runs close by and helps drain parts of the hand and forearm. The radial and ulnar nerves also run close to the humerus.
What is the humerus?
1180. FMA. 13303. Anatomical terms of bone. The humerus ( / ˈhjuːmərəs /, plural: humeri) is a long bone in the arm that runs from the shoulder to the elbow. It connects the scapula and the two bones of the lower arm, the radius and ulna, and consists of three sections.
What is the surface of the humerus?
The body or shaft of the humerus is triangular to cylindrical in cut section and is compressed anteroposteriorly. It has 3 surfaces, namely: Anterolateral surface : the area between the lateral border of the humerus to the line drawn as a continuation of the crest of the greater tubercle.
Which crest forms the sharp lateral border of the distal humerus continuing superiorly from the medial?
The Medial supracondylar crest forms the sharp medial border of the distal humerus continuing superiorly from the medial epicondyle. The Lateral Supracondylar crest forms the sharp lateral border of the distal humerus continuing superiorly from the lateral epicondyle.
Which part of the humerus is flattened?
The distal or lower extremity of the humerus is flattened from before backward, and curved slightly forward; it ends below in a broad, articular surface, which is divided into two parts by a slight ridge. Projecting on either side are the lateral and medial epicondyles .
Which part of the humerus articulates with the glenoid fossa of the s?
At the shoulder, the head of the humerus articulates with the glenoid fossa of the scapula. More distally, at the elbow, the capitulum of the humerus articulates with the head of the radius, and the trochlea of the humerus articulates with the trochlear notch of the ulna .
Which muscles attach to the humerus?
(The biceps do not attach to the humerus.) The triceps brachii and anconeus extend the elbow, and attach to the posterior side of the humerus.
Where does the word Humerus come from?
The word "humerus" is derived from Latin: humerus, umerus meaning upper arm, shoulder, and is linguistically related to Gothic ams shoulder and Greek ōmos.
What is the head of the humerus?
The head of the humerus makes up a portion of the ball-and-socket shoulder joint. This area also serves as the insertion point for muscles which make up the shoulder girdle. This includes the long head of the biceps tendon, along with supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis which are known as the rotator cuff muscles.
What is the most commonly fractured part of the humerus?
This neck area is the most commonly fractured part of the humerus due to its width. Unfortunately, fracture at this point in the humerus can be damaging to children and adolescents, as this is also the location of the epiphyseal plate or growth plate. The shoulder joint, comprised in part by the humerus bone, is considered a ball-and-socket joint.
What is the rhythm between the scapula and the humerus?
The rhythm between the scapula and the humerus is a very important one for adequate shoulder function. Another important landmark is the anatomical neck, ...
What is the largest bone in the upper extremity?
The humerus is the largest bone in the entire upper extremity. The top of the humerus joins with an area called the glenoid fossa on the scapula or shoulder blade. The bottom of the humerus touches the top of the radius and ulna which joins the upper arm with the lower arm.
Why is my humerus inflamed?
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.
Why does my humerus hurt?
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 any and all joint motion.
What is the nerve that lies across the front portion of the humerus called?
There is also a large network of nerves which lies across the front portion of the humerus, called the brachial plexus.
How many bones are there in the human body?
THE human skeleton is what holds us up, protects our organs, and houses our bone marrow where blood cells are made.
How many bones are there in each foot?
Down at the other end of your skeleton, there are 26 bones in each of your feet. In fact, more than half the bones in the body ...
What is the longest bone in the human body?
The longest and strongest bone in the human body is the thigh bone, or femur - which is the only bone in your upper leg. On average, the human femur is 50.55cm (19.9 inches) long. Interestingly, the second and third longest bones in the human body are also in the leg - they are the tibia and fibula, the two bones that make up the shin.
How long is the tibia?
The tibia is on average 42.93cm (16.9 inches) long, and the fibula is an average length of 40.39cm (15.9 inches). The humerus, the long bone of the upper arm, is the next longest bone in the human body, averaging 35.8cm (14.1 inches).
How many ribs does a human have?
Both sexes usually have 24 ribs - or 12 pairs. There are four layers in bone: the outside is a thin layer of nerves and blood vessels. Next is the very hard white layer that typifies skeletons; inside this is a strong spongy layer, and blood-making, jelly-ish bone marrow is right in the middle. 5.
How many bones are in a baby's hand?
Each hand has 27 bones, and each foot has 26 - totalling 106 bones in just these four appendages. Newborn babies have over 300 bones, some of which fuse together as they grow. In some unusual cases, people can be born with more bones, like an extra pair of ribs, or an extra finger or toe.
Which bone is the most broken in the human body?
The two bones in the lower arm are the next longest, followed by the eighth and ninth ribs. The collar bone, clavicle, is the most often broken bone in the human body, because it is slim and in a vulnerable position. Lecturer strips off during class and students flee classroom in disgust.
What are some facts about the humerus?
Key facts about the humerus. Proximal End. Head, anatomical neck, greater tubercle, lesser tubercle.
Which part of the humerus is the most lateral?
The greater tubercle is the most lateral portion of the proximal end of the humerus. It consists of three smooth and flat impressions at the posterosuperior aspect for the attachment of muscles. From superior to inferior, the muscles that attach at these impressions are the: supraspinatus. infraspinatus.
What is the humerus articulation?
The humerus articulates with the scapula proximally at the glenohumeral joint so it participates in the movements of the shoulder . Also, the humerus has distal articulations with the radius and ulna at the elbow joint .
What is the proximal end of the humerus?
The proximal end of the humerus consists of a head, an anatomical neck and the greater and lesser tubercles.
Where is the anterior border of the humerus?
The lateral border begins just distal to the greater tubercle of the humerus.
Which bone is the longest and largest bone in the upper limb?
Humerus . The humerus is the longest and largest bone of the upper limb. It consists of a proximal end, a shaft and a distal end, all which contain important anatomical landmarks. The humerus articulates with the scapula proximally at the glenohumeral joint so it participates in the movements of the shoulder .
How many bones are there in the skeletal system?
The skeletal system in the body is made up of 206 bones that are arranged in the axial skeletal system and the appendicular skeletal system. The axial skeletal system runs along the midline axis in the body and it is made up of 80 bones that include the skull, hyoid, auditory ossicles, ribs, sternum and vertebral column.
Which muscle makes up 40 percent of the body weight?
Skeletal muscle is the kind of muscle that helps to create movement in the body. The skeletal muscles make up 40 percent of a person's body weight. Cardiac muscle is involuntary muscle in the body and make up the muscles found in the heart cavity.
How many bones are in the appendicular skeleton?
The appendicular skeleton is made up of 126 bones that include the upper limbs, lower limbs, pelvic girdle and pectoral (shoulder) girdle. There are three types of muscle tissue (more than 600 muscles) in the body including skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle and smooth muscle.
What is the new body part called?
Scientists discovered a new body part, a ligament in the knee now called anterolateral ligament in 2013 at the University of Leuven in Belgium. The anterolateral ligament knee ligament was found to play a crucial part in anterior cruciate ligament tears. New research is being done on the ligament. The skeletal system in the body is made up ...
How many cells does the human body make?
It’s difficult to measure exactly how many cells your body makes on any given day. The lifespan of each of the 200 types of cells varies considerably, so not every type of cell is produced at an equal rate.
How many cells were found in the human body?
Once they arrived at an estimate of all the different cell types, they added them all together. The number they arrived at was 30 trillion.
How many bacteria are there in the human body?
New data show that the number of bacterial cells inside a human body is around 38 trillion. This turns out to be much closer to the estimated 30 trillion human cells in the body.
How many neurons are there in the brain?
There are roughly 171 billion cells in the average male brain according to new research, including about 86 billion neurons. Trusted Source. . Neurons are cells that help transmit signals throughout the brain. There are also 85 billion other cells in the brain, called glial cells, that help support the neurons.
What is the difference between the 200 different types of cells in the human body?
For this reason, each of the 200 different types of cells in the body has a different structure, size, shape, and function, and contains different organelles. For example:
How many bacteria outnumber human cells?
You may have read that bacterial cells in the human body outnumber human cells 10 to 1. The primary source for that ratio dates back to the 1970s, when American microbiologists used a series of assumptions to calculate the number of bacteria inside the intestinal tract. The 10:1 ratio has since been disproven.
How many different types of cells are there in the human body?
Each of the 200 different types of cells in the human body has a different weight and size. Within the body, some cells are packed more densely, while others are more spread out.
How many bones are there in the human body?
As they grow up, some of the bones fuse together to form a single bone. As a result, the adult human skeleton consists of 206 bones. The size and shape of a bone varies according to its location in the body.
How many vertebrae are there in the neck?
Hyoid bone of the neck (horseshoe-shaped) 26 vertebrae (7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, sacrum made from 5 fused vertebrae, and coccyx made from 3 fused vertebrae) 24 ribs, 1 sternum or breastbone, shoulder girdle (2 clavicles and 2 scapulae) 2 in arms (humerus), 4 in forearms (2 radius, 2 ulna) 54 in the hands (carpus, metacarpus, and digits) ...
What are irregular bones?
The vertebrae, sacrum, and mandible (lower jaw) are examples of irregular bones. Short or irregular bones, situated deep in a tendon are called sesamoid bones. The patella (in the knee), pisiform (smallest of the carpals – wrist bone), and the two small bones at the base of the first metatarsal (foot bones) are sesamoid bones.
What is the skeleton of a human?
Human skeleton is composed of different types of bones. While telling the exact number of bones in the human body, this Bodytomy article also describes the main types and distribution of bones in the body. Read on to know the longest and the shortest bone in your body.
Which bone is the smallest?
Femur is the longest bone, while stapes bone in the middle ear is the smallest bone in the human body. Scapula (shoulder blade), rib bones, os coxae (hip bones), etc., are some examples of flat bones in the body. The vertebrae, sacrum, and mandible (lower jaw) are examples of irregular bones.
What is the skeletal system?
The skeletal system is one of the important systems in the human body. Its main functions are to support the organs, anchor the muscles, and protect the organs such as heart, lungs, and brain. The human skeleton contains fused and individual bones, that are supported by muscles, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage.

Overview
The humerus is a long bone in the arm that runs from the shoulder to the elbow. It connects the scapula and the two bones of the lower arm, the radius and ulna, and consists of three sections. The humeral upper extremity consists of a rounded head, a narrow neck, and two short processes (tubercles, sometimes called tuberosities). The body is cylindrical in its upper portion, and more prismatic bel…
Etymology
The word "humerus" is derived from Latin: humerus, umerus meaning upper arm, shoulder, and is linguistically related to Gothic ams shoulder and Greek ōmos.
Structure
The upper or proximal extremity of the humerus consists of the bone's large rounded head joined to the body by a constricted portion called the neck, and two eminences, the greater and lesser tubercles.
The head (caput humeri), is nearly hemispherical in form. It is directed upward, medialward, and a little backward, and articulates with the glenoid cavity of the …
Function
The deltoid originates on the lateral third of the clavicle, acromion and the crest of the spine of the scapula. It is inserted on the deltoid tuberosity of the humerus and has several actions including abduction, extension, and circumduction of the shoulder. The supraspinatus also originates on the spine of the scapula. It inserts on the greater tubercle of the humerus, and assists in abduction of the shoulder.
Other animals
Primitive fossils of amphibians had little, if any, shaft connecting the upper and lower extremities, making their limbs very short. In most living tetrapods, however, the humerus has a similar form to that of humans. In many reptiles and some mammals (where it is the primitive state), the lower extremity includes a large opening called the entepicondylar foramen to allow the passage of nerves and blood vessels.
Ossification
During embryonic development, the humerus is one of the first structures to ossify, beginning with the first ossification center in the shaft of the bone. Ossification of the humerus occurs predictably in the embryo and fetus, and is therefore used as a fetal biometric measurement when determining gestational age of a fetus. At birth, the neonatal humerus is only ossified in the shaft. The epiphyses are cartilaginous at birth. The medial humeral head develops an ossification cent…
See also
• Humerus fracture
External links
• "Humerus" . New International Encyclopedia. 1905.
• Humerus - BlueLink Anatomy, University of Michigan Medical School