Humerus Showing The Condyle, Posterior View

Description

Distal humerus anatomy dominates this posterior view, centering on the humeral condyle that forms the superior half of the elbow joint. Superior to the trochlea, the olecranon fossa appears as a deep depression on the posterior surface, positioned between the medial and lateral epicondyles. Medially, the epicondyle projects farther and creates the familiar bony prominence at the elbow, while the lateral epicondyle sits more lateral and slightly superior in profile. Articular surfaces remain distal, with the trochlea occupying the medial portion of the condylar region and the lateral articular margin transitioning toward the capitular area, which is less apparent from a strictly posterior perspective. Olecranon engagement with the olecranon fossa defines terminal extension at the ulnohumeral joint, so this fixed posterior perspective is the one you want when teaching bony restraints to motion without drifting into soft tissue explanations. Orthopedic relevance is immediate: supracondylar fractures in children and distal humeral fractures in adults are commonly described relative to the epicondyles and the fossae, and a posterior understanding helps anticipate fragment orientation and joint incongruity. The medial epicondyle also frames the ulnar nerve course in the cubital tunnel region (posterior to the epicondyle), a frequent site of traction or compression during elbow injury, casting, or surgical exposure. A reliable bony landmark. Use this illustration in gross anatomy labs when students palpate epicondyles and correlate them with the ulnohumeral articulation, or in orthopedic teaching files that describe distal humerus fracture patterns and posterior surgical approaches to the elbow. It also fits radiology primers that pair plain films with surface anatomy by emphasizing the olecranon fossa and the contour of the distal humeral articular surface. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.