Greater Tubercle Of The Humerus

Description

Greater tubercle of the humerus dominates the posterior proximal arm in this rear view, rising lateral to the humeral head and immediately distal to the anatomical neck. The posterior surface reveals the roughened impression and facet region where the infraspinatus tendon inserts, with the teres minor insertion positioned inferiorly along the lower facet, while the lateral margin transitions toward the surgical neck. Bony contours of the proximal humerus frame these landmarks, with the tubercle projecting laterally from the shaft and forming the lateral boundary of the rotator cuff footprint. Surface anatomy, no distraction. Rotator cuff pathology often centers on these insertions, and a posterior perspective helps clarify why greater tuberosity fractures or displaced avulsion fragments can compromise infraspinatus and teres minor function, producing external rotation weakness and posterior shoulder pain. Orthopedic trainees also use the greater tubercle as a fixed landmark when orienting proximal humerus fracture patterns (Neer classification) and when planning fixation, since screw placement and plate position must respect the tuberosity and adjacent tendon insertions to avoid postoperative impingement. Lighting emphasizes the cortical relief and footprint boundaries rather than cancellous detail, which suits teaching and labeling. Use this illustration for upper limb osteology labs, rotator cuff lectures in gross anatomy or sports medicine modules, and figures in orthopedic texts discussing proximal humerus fractures, tuberosity displacement, and posterior cuff insertion anatomy. It also fits preoperative planning handouts and patient-facing educational materials where “rear view” orientation matters for correlating pain location with the greater tubercle and surrounding bone. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.