The surgical neck of the humerus is a bony constriction at the proximal end of shaft of humerus. It is situated distal to the greater tubercle and lesser tubercle, and proximal to the deltoid tuberosity.

Clinical significance

The surgical neck is much more frequently fractured than the anatomical neck of the humerus. This type of fracture takes place when the humerus is forced in one direction while the joint capsule and the rotator cuff muscles remain intact. A fracture in this area is most likely to cause damage to the axillary nerve and posterior circumflex humeral artery. Damage to the axillary nerve affects function of the teres minor and deltoid muscles, resulting in loss of abduction of arm (from 15-90 degrees), weak flexion, extension, and rotation of shoulder as well as loss of sensation of the skin over a small part of the lateral shoulder.

Additional images

  • The difference between anatomical neck and surgical neck of the humerus
  • Posterior view of the humerus showing the axillary nerve and posterior circumflex humeral artery at the surgical neck.

See also

This article incorporates text in the public domain from ofthe 20th edition ofGray's Anatomy(1918)

External links

  • at Human Anatomy Lecture (Biology 129), Pennsylvania State University
  • . Medcyclopaedia. GE.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  • at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) ()