Humerus of a Human Male With an Oblique Fracture, Posterior View

Description

Posterior anatomy of the male humerus is rendered from the shoulder to the distal arm, with the humeral head positioned proximally and medially as it articulates with the glenoid cavity of the scapula. An oblique fracture line is emphasized near the surgical neck, just distal to the tubercles, then extending inferolaterally toward the proximal shaft. Along the posterior shaft, the region corresponding to the radial (spiral) groove lies distal to the fracture, while the olecranon fossa and the medial and lateral epicondyles define the distal end in the midline and on either side. Oblique fractures at the surgical neck sit in a clinically awkward corridor. Axillary nerve and posterior circumflex humeral artery traverse the quadrangular space and wrap around the posterior aspect of the surgical neck, so displacement here can present with deltoid weakness and sensory change over the superior lateral arm. A posterior view also helps you teach why varus angulation and rotational malalignment can be missed if assessment focuses only on anteroposterior radiographs, and why careful correlation with scapulohumeral alignment and shoulder contour matters during reduction. Look for nerve risk. Educationally, this asset supports upper limb modules in gross anatomy and orthopaedics, pairing well with lessons on fracture classification, neurovascular injury patterns, and shoulder girdle biomechanics. It also fits surgical teaching materials discussing immobilization, ORIF planning, and posterior approaches to the proximal humerus, where understanding posterior bony landmarks guides incision placement and hardware positioning. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.