Humerus facts for kids
The humerus is a very important bone in your arm. It's the long bone found in your upper arm, between your shoulder and your elbow. Think of it as the main support beam for your upper arm! It connects your shoulder blade (called the scapula) to the bones in your forearm at the elbow. This bone is found in many animals with four limbs, like humans, dogs, and cats.
Contents
The Humerus Bone: Your Upper Arm's Main Support
The humerus is a long bone, meaning it's longer than it is wide. It's a key part of your upper limb, helping you move your arm in many ways. Without your humerus, you wouldn't be able to lift, push, or pull things!
Where is the Humerus Located?
Your humerus is easy to find. Just feel your upper arm, from your shoulder down to your elbow. That strong, single bone you feel is your humerus.
- Top part: The top of the humerus fits into a socket in your shoulder blade. This forms your shoulder joint, which is a ball-and-socket joint. This type of joint allows for a lot of movement, like swinging your arm in circles.
- Bottom part: The bottom of the humerus connects with two bones in your forearm: the radius and the ulna. This connection forms your elbow joint, which works like a hinge. It lets you bend and straighten your arm.
What Does the Humerus Do?
The humerus has several important jobs in your body:
- Movement: It's the main bone that allows you to move your entire arm. From lifting your hand to wave, to throwing a ball, the humerus is always involved.
- Muscle Attachment: Many muscles that control your arm and shoulder attach to the humerus. These muscles pull on the bone to create movement. For example, your biceps and triceps muscles, which help you bend and straighten your elbow, are attached to your humerus.
- Protection: It helps protect important nerves and blood vessels that run through your arm.
Parts of the Humerus
Even though it looks like one long bone, the humerus has different sections:
- Head: This is the rounded, ball-like top part that fits into your shoulder socket.
- Shaft: This is the long, middle part of the bone. It's strong and thick.
- Condyles: These are the bumpy ends at the bottom of the humerus. They form the elbow joint. The two main bumps are called the capitulum and the trochlea.
- Epicondyles: These are smaller bumps on either side of the condyles. They are important places where forearm muscles attach.
Common Humerus Injuries
Because the humerus is so important for movement, it can sometimes get injured.
- Fractures: A fracture is a broken bone. Humerus fractures can happen from falls, sports injuries, or accidents. They can be painful and might require a cast or even surgery to heal properly.
- Dislocations: Sometimes, the top of the humerus can pop out of its socket in the shoulder. This is called a shoulder dislocation and needs a doctor to put it back in place.
Taking care of your bones, including your humerus, is important for staying active and healthy! Eating foods rich in calcium and Vitamin D, and exercising regularly, helps keep your bones strong.
Images for kids
-
Head of Humerus
-
Anatomical vs Surgical Neck of Humerus
-
Greater Tubercle of the Right Humerus
-
Attachments on the Greater Tubercle
-
Lesser Tubercle of the Right Humerus
-
Insertion of subscapularis muscle on the lesser tubercle
-
Bicipital groove
-
Anterior View of the humerus showing borders and surfaces
-
Posterior view of the humerus showing the medial and lateral borders and the posterior surface of the humerus
-
Deltoid Tuberosity of the humerus
-
Radial groove continuing as the lateral border of shaft of the humerus
-
Nutrient foramen of the Humerus
-
Olecranon fossa of the Humerus
-
Coronoid Fossa of the Humerus
-
Radial Fossa of the Humerus
-
Capitulum on the lateral side and trochlea on the medial side of the Humerus
-
Trochlea of the Humerus
-
Medial and Lateral epicondyles of the Humerus
-
Medial and lateral supracondylar ridges of the Humerus
-
Position of humerus (shown in red). Animation.
-
Left humerus. Animation.
-
Trochlea. Posterior view.
-
Humerus - inferior epiphysis. Posterior view.
-
Humerus - superior epiphysis. Anterior view.
-
Humerus - superior epiphysis. Posterior view.
-
The left shoulder and acromioclavicular joints, and the proper ligaments of the scapula
-
Left humerus. Anterior view.
-
Left humerus. Posterior view.
-
Left humerus. Anteriolateral view.
-
Left humerus. Medial view.
-
Fracture of the proximal humerus
-
Left elbow-joint, showing anterior and ulnar collateral ligaments.
-
Capsule of elbow-joint (distended). Posterior aspect.
-
The left shoulder and acromioclavicular joints, and the proper ligaments of the scapula.
-
The supinator.
-
Horizontal section at the middle of upper arm.
-
Horizontal section of upper arm.
-
Humerus
See also
In Spanish: Húmero para niños
