Anatomical Structure And Location Of The Crest Of The Lesser Tubercle

Description

Crest of the lesser tubercle (crista tuberculi minoris) is highlighted along the proximal anterior humerus as the medial lip of the intertubercular sulcus (sulcus intertubercularis). Medial to it sits the lesser tubercle (tuberculum minus), while the bicipital groove lies immediately lateral, bounded on its lateral side by the crest of the greater tubercle (crista tuberculi majoris). Inferiorly, the crest blends into the anterior-medial surface of the humeral shaft, maintaining a sharp ridge that defines the groove’s medial boundary and frames the passage of the tendon of the long head of the biceps brachii within the sulcus. A hard landmark. Clinically, the lesser tubercle crest matters because it anchors the insertion of teres major on the medial lip, a relationship that helps you orient tendon attachments when teaching the proximal humerus or when reading operative notes from shoulder and axillary approaches. Its close adjacency to the bicipital groove also makes it a practical reference when discussing bicipital tendinopathy and tendon instability, where disruption of the transverse humeral ligament or injury around the tubercles can alter the tendon’s position within the sulcus. The focused bony topography in a single anterior perspective makes the medial boundary of the groove unambiguous, which is often the sticking point for learners comparing the crests, the sulcus, and the tubercles. Use this illustration in upper limb osteology sessions, shoulder anatomy labs, and exam material that asks students to distinguish the crista tuberculi minoris from the tuberculum minus and adjacent sulcus intertubercularis. It also fits well in orthopedic and sports medicine publications covering proximal humerus fractures, biceps pathology, and tendon insertion mapping around the bicipital groove. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.