Lateral Bicipital Groove, Anterior View

Description

Anterior to the proximal humerus, the long head of the biceps brachii tendon descends toward the intertubercular sulcus (bicipital groove), with the lateral bicipital groove running along the lateral lip adjacent to the greater tubercle. Medial to this ridge sits the lesser tubercle and its crest, defining the medial boundary of the groove, while the tendon occupies the channel between the tubercles. Superiorly the region approaches the humeral head and anterior shoulder, and inferiorly it blends into the proximal shaft where the tendon continues into the biceps muscle belly. Orientation is from the front. Clear landmarks. Clinically, the lateral wall of the bicipital groove matters because the long head tendon is commonly a pain generator in anterior shoulder syndromes, with tendinopathy, subluxation, or tenosynovitis often localizing to the groove and reproducing tenderness with resisted supination or elbow flexion. The groove also guides the path of the transverse humeral ligament and the surrounding pulley complex with the subscapularis and supraspinatus tendons, relationships that help explain why rotator cuff tears can destabilize the biceps tendon. An anterior gross view clarifies the surface anatomy surgeons reference during open or arthroscopic biceps tenodesis and when placing portals near the rotator interval. Use this artwork for gross anatomy teaching on the anterior shoulder and arm, for orthopedic and sports medicine chapters discussing biceps tendinopathy and tenodesis/tenotomy landmarks, or for patient education materials that need the intertubercular sulcus and its lateral lip identified cleanly. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.