Greater Tubercle Of The Humerus, Posterior View

Description

Greater tubercle of the humerus dominates this posterior shoulder view, projecting laterally from the proximal metaphysis just distal to the humeral head and its anatomical neck. The posterior surface is contoured into the superior, middle, and inferior facets where the rotator cuff footprints sit, with the humeral head lying medial and superior and the surgical neck tapering inferiorly toward the shaft. Lateral to the head, the crest of the greater tubercle forms the posterior boundary of the intertubercular (bicipital) groove, while the lesser tubercle remains largely anterior and out of direct sight from this orientation. Bone landmarks read sharply. Orthopedics and sports medicine often hinge on this bony prominence because the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and teres minor tendons insert onto distinct facets of the greater tubercle, so tendon detachment, enthesopathy, or a displaced greater tuberosity fracture can be described with precise anatomic language. A posterior perspective helps clarify why posterosuperior cuff tears and greater tuberosity avulsion fragments alter the contour seen on Grashey, scapular Y, or axillary radiographs, and why fixation aims to restore the lateral offset that preserves subacromial clearance. It also pairs well with discussions of anterior shoulder dislocation, where associated greater tuberosity fractures may coexist with Hill-Sachs lesions on the posterolateral humeral head. Teaching faculty can drop this illustration into upper limb osteology labs to anchor muscle attachment questions, or into rotator cuff modules in physical therapy and athletic training curricula when explaining tendon footprint anatomy and repair principles. Publishers of orthopedic operative technique texts and radiology guides can use it as a labeled reference for fracture description, implant placement orientation, and reporting of tuberosity displacement. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.