Humerus Featuring The Crest Of The Lesser Tubercle, Anterior View

Description

Humerus anatomy is centered on the proximal anterior shaft, where the crest of the lesser tubercle (crista tuberculi minoris) forms a rough vertical ridge descending from the lesser tubercle toward the medial lip of the intertubercular sulcus. From a frontal (anterior) perspective, the crest lies medial to the bicipital groove and inferior to the humeral head, with the surgical neck positioned just distal to the tubercles. The anterior surface of the proximal diaphysis frames this landmark, emphasizing its transition from the metaphyseal region into the shaft. Orientation is unmistakably brachial. Clinically, the crest of the lesser tubercle matters because it marks the medial boundary of the intertubercular sulcus and provides a reference for the tendon of latissimus dorsi, which inserts on the floor of the groove, and for adjacent insertions on the lips (pectoralis major laterally, teres major medially). Surgeons use these proximal humeral landmarks when orienting fracture patterns at the surgical neck and when planning fixation or arthroplasty, where rotational alignment depends on consistent recognition of tubercles and the bicipital groove. A static anterior viewpoint keeps the ridge-and-groove relationship readable at a glance. Use this illustration in upper limb anatomy teaching (osteology of the humerus, muscle attachment mapping), in orthopedic lecture decks covering proximal humerus fractures and shoulder arthroplasty templating, or in publisher figures explaining the intertubercular region and tendon insertions around the bicipital groove. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.