Intertubercular Sulcus On The Humerus, Anterior View

Description

Intertubercular sulcus (bicipital groove) occupies the anterior proximal humerus between the greater tubercle laterally and the lesser tubercle medially. From this frontal perspective, the groove reads as a vertical channel that begins inferior to the humeral head and anatomical neck, then continues distally toward the proximal shaft. The crests bordering the sulcus are apparent on each side, with the crest of the greater tubercle lateral and the crest of the lesser tubercle medial, framing the corridor normally occupied by the tendon of the long head of biceps brachii as it exits the glenohumeral joint and enters the bicipital canal. A tight landmark. Intertubercular anatomy matters because subtle changes in groove geometry and its bordering tubercles correlate with common anterior shoulder complaints, including long head of biceps tendinopathy, tenosynovitis, and medial subluxation when the stabilizing pulley (including fibers associated with subscapularis and supraspinatus) fails. Surgeons planning biceps tenodesis and educators teaching anterior approaches to the proximal humerus rely on a fixed anterior orientation to relate the sulcus to the lesser tubercle and subscapularis insertion, and to the lateral crest that receives pectoralis major more distally while the floor of the sulcus continues toward the latissimus dorsi and teres major insertions on the medial lip. The single-plane view also supports discussion of proximal humeral fractures, where displacement of tubercular fragments can alter the bicipital canal and contribute to persistent bicipital pain after fixation. Use this illustration for musculoskeletal anatomy labs, orthopedic surgical atlases covering bicipital tenodesis or proximal humerus ORIF, and radiology teaching files when correlating surface landmarks with axial MR or ultrasound of the bicipital groove. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.