The humerus is one of the most important bones in the human body and in the skeleton. In the following, we will know where this greatness is located in the upper part of the body? What are the medical conditions that may affect them?

What is the humerus bone?

The humerus bone, which is called in English (Humerus Bone), is located in the upper part of the arm between the elbow and the shoulder, and it is one of the long bones in the human body.

The anatomy of this bone includes:

• Head: This rounded area interacts with the scapula; To form the shoulder joint.
• Tubercles: These bony areas act as attachment points for the muscles of the shoulder joint, and the body has two tubers, the greater and lesser tubercle.
• Surgical neck: This part is located at the base of the humerus, and is a common site for fractures.
• Epicondyles: They are bony outgrowths at the lower end of the bone, and they serve as attachment points for the muscles of the lower arm, wrist, and hand. The body has two, the medial and lateral epicondyles.
• Trolley: This part interacts with the ulna bone in the lower arm.
• Capitulum: It is a part of the bone, and it interacts with the radius bone of the lower arm.
• Fossae: They are depressions that help accommodate the bones of the lower arm when moving the elbow joint, and the body has three fossae.

humerus function

The humerus has two important functions, namely movement and support. The connections made by the bone at the shoulder and elbow allow a variety of arm movements, such as:

• Rotation in the shoulder joint.
• Raising the arms away from the body.
• Lower the arms toward the body.
• Move the arms behind the torso.
• Move the arms in front of the torso.
• Straightening and flexing the elbow.

In addition to being important in various arm movements, the humerus bone is also important for support, as its parts act as a point of contact for the shoulder and arm muscles.

Humerus fractures

Fractures are among the most common injuries to this bone, and fractures are classified according to their location:

• A fracture that occurs at the end of the bone (closer to the shoulder blade).
• A fracture that occurs in the body of the bone itself.
• A fracture that occurs at the end of the bone (closer to the elbow).

A humerus fracture is most often caused by:

• A direct blow. This type of injury usually occurs in contact sports.
• Breakage may occur due to car accidents as well.
• The fracture can also occur when falling with an outstretched arm.
• Having an underlying health condition. This is called a pathologic fracture, and it can be caused by conditions such as osteoporosis or cancer.

Some of the most common signs and symptoms of a fractured bone include:

• Arm pain, which may be severe and often gets worse with movement.
• A crackling or popping sound that occurs at the time of injury.
• The appearance of swelling and bruising.
• A visible bump on the upper arm.
• Decreased arm range of motion.

Treatment of a fracture of the humerus

In treatment, the doctor relies on determining the type of fracture, which can be known through conducting many examinations and tests, and the installation of a chip in the humerus bone is one of the important methods used in treatment.

The steps to install a plate and screws in the humerus include the following:

• The operation is done under general anesthesia.
• All vital processes of the body are monitored during the operation, such as heart rate and blood pressure.
• The affected area is cleaned, then the skin and muscles of the arm or the upper part of the shoulder are cut.
• The doctor puts the bone back in place, then fixes it with screws and metal plates.
• The doctor closes the skin and muscles around the upper arm or shoulder.

Duration of humeral bone healing

It should be noted that most cases of screws and chips need to be followed up with physical therapy through exercises and some movements. To help strengthen the muscles of the arm or shoulder, which maintains movement, the patient may need a few months (from 6 to 12 weeks) to return to the state of health before the injury.