Tubercle (anatomy)

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In anatomy, a tubercle is a round nodule, small eminence, or warty outgrowth found on bones, skin or within the lungs in tuberculosis

Contents 1 Types 1.1 On the arms 1.2 On ribs 1.3 In the lungs 1.4 On the genitals

[edit] Types

Within the human body there are numerous sites where tubercles develop. On bones they are generally the sites of muscle insertions. Within the lungs and on the genitals, tubercles are sites of disease.

[edit] On the arms

The humerus of the upper arm has two tubercles, the greater tubercle and the lesser tubercle. These are situated at the proximal end of the bone, that is the end that connects with the scapula.

[edit] On ribs

See tubercle (rib)

[edit] In the lungs

Tubercles in the lungs develop as a result of infection by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium. The tissues infected by the bacterium become nodular and undergo necrosis in the centre.

[edit] On the genitals

The genital tubercle as a small bump that eventually develops into a phallus on a human fetus.

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.