Greater tubercle
| Greater tubercle | |
|---|---|
 Left humerus. Anterior view. (Greater tubercle visible at right.) | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | tuberculum majus humeri |
| Dorlands /Elsevier | t_21/12828956 |
| TA | A02.4.04.005 |
| FMA | 23390 |
The greater tubercle of the humerus is situated lateral to the head of the humerus and posterolateral to the lesser tubercle.
Its upper surface is rounded and marked by three flat impressions.
- the highest of these gives ("superior facet") insertion to the supraspinatus
- the middle ("middle facet") to the infraspinatus.
- the lowest one ("inferior facet"), and the body of the bone for about 2.5 cm; below it, to the teres minor.
The lateral surface of the greater tubercle is convex, rough, and continuous with the lateral surface of the body.
Between the greater tubercle and the lesser tubercle is the bicipital groove (intertubercular sulcus).
All three of the muscles that attach to the greater tubercle are part of the rotator cuff, a muscle group that stabilizes the shoulder joint. The fourth muscle of the rotator cuff (the subscapularis) does not attach to the greater tubercle, but instead attaches to the lesser tubercle.
Additional images
Human arm bones diagram
References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
External links
- Anatomy figure: 03:02-09 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center
- Anatomy figure: 05:01-07 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center
- Anatomy figure: 10:02-13 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center
- aplab - BioWeb at University of Wisconsin System