Anatomical and Surgical Neck Circumference of Adult Human Humerus

The upper end of the humerus consists of three necks such as anatomical neck, surgical neck and morphological neck. The anatomical neck of the humerus is the area just below the head of the humerus. The surgical neck of the humerus is the area just below the greater and lesser tubercle of the humerus. The morphological neck is the junction between the diaphysis and upper epiphysis. It is represented by an epiphyseal line in the adult bone. It is a true junction of the head with the shaft. Fracture of the anatomical neck of the humerus rarely occurs. Fracture of the surgical neck of the humerus is more common in the upper-end fracture. The aim of this study was to measure the anatomical neck and surgical neck circumference of the humerus. One hundred (right=43 and left=57) samples were selected through the purposive sampling technique for this cross-sectional descriptive study which was carried out in the Department of Anatomy, Mymensingh Medical College, Mymensingh, Bangladesh during the period of July 2021 to June 2022. Any damaged, unossified bones or fractured bones were excluded. Data were tabulated and statistically analyzed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS software. The mean±SD anatomical neck circumference of the right humerus was 131.418±10.445 mm and the left humerus was 128.982±9.795 mm. The mean±SD surgical neck circumference of the right humerus was 74.883±7.607 mm and the left humerus was 74.298±7.392 mm. The anatomical knowledge of the anatomical and surgical neck of the humerus is beneficial for anthropologists, orthopedic surgeons & radiologists in cases of proximal end fractures of the humerus.