Fractured Humerus, Posterior View

Description

Oriented in posterior anatomical position, the shoulder girdle is rendered through the dorsal soft-tissue envelope with the humerus of an adult male aligned lateral to the scapula. The humeral head sits superiorly and laterally, articulating with the glenoid cavity, while the proximal metaphysis and surgical neck transition inferiorly into the shaft of the brachium. A transverse fracture line near the proximal humerus is highlighted as a cortical discontinuity, positioned just distal to the articular surface and proximal to the deltoid insertion on the lateral aspect of the humeral shaft. Subtle surrounding musculature provides context without obscuring the bone. Clean and legible. Proximal humerus fractures cluster around the surgical neck and tuberosities, where displacement patterns reflect rotator cuff pull (supraspinatus drawing the greater tubercle superiorly and posteriorly, subscapularis rotating the lesser tubercle medially), and that mechanism matters when you are teaching Neer-style fracture parts or anticipating loss of shoulder elevation. Axillary nerve and posterior circumflex humeral artery vulnerability at the surgical neck can be discussed directly from this posterior projection, along with expected deficits in deltoid function and sensation over the regimental badge area. Posterior orientation also supports explanation of scapulohumeral rhythm and why immobilization strategies differ between stable impacted fractures and displaced patterns requiring fixation or arthroplasty. Common use cases include orthopedic trauma lectures, radiology-pathology correlation figures in textbooks comparing plain-film projections with anatomy, and patient-facing materials for consent discussions around open reduction and internal fixation of the proximal humerus. It also fits anatomy lab teaching on the shoulder joint, linking surface anatomy of the back to underlying bone landmarks during examination of post-fall shoulder pain. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.