The Lesser Tubercle Of The Humerus In Anterior View

Description

Rotating in an anterior orientation, the proximal humerus comes into focus with the lesser tubercle (tuberculum minus) projecting on the anterior surface, medial to the intertubercular sulcus (bicipital groove) and anterior to the humeral head. Superiorly, the lesser tubercle sits just inferior to the anatomical neck, while laterally it transitions toward the greater tubercle (tuberculum majus) across the groove. As the sequence progresses, the camera emphasis tracks the contour changes that define the tubercle, the groove, and the proximal shaft. Clear bony relief. Clinically, this landmark matters because it anchors the subscapularis tendon, so its position predicts the line of pull across the anterior shoulder and clarifies why internal rotation strength can drop after anterior dislocation or subscapularis tears. The animation makes the three-dimensional relationship between the lesser tubercle and the bicipital groove easier to grasp than a static plate, which helps when teaching how long head of biceps instability relates to the groove’s margins and the transverse humeral ligament. It also supports accurate description of proximal humerus fractures, where fragments may include the lesser tubercle and displace medially with subscapularis traction. Use this asset for upper limb osteology teaching, shoulder anatomy modules, and surgical education materials that reference the deltopectoral approach and biceps tenodesis landmarks, as well as radiology captions that orient readers to anterior cortical anatomy on axial CT or 3D reconstructions. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.