MORPHOMETRIC STUDY OF UPPER END OF HUMERUS AND ITS NUTRIENT FORAMEN – AN OSTEOLOGICAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: The humerus is longest bone of the upper limb. The upper end of the humerus consists of head, anatomical neck, greater and lesser tubercles. Nutrient artery of humerus is a branch of brachial artery. Clinically, the upper end fractures such as avulsion fracture etc. are common in elderly people. Thus, morphometry of the upper end of humerus will help in reconstruction of bone and a proper surgical planning. Nutrient foramen is an opening into shaft of humerus which gives passage to the blood vessels of medullary cavity. The knowledge of nutrient foramen is important in surgical procedures like bone grafting and more recently in microsurgical vascularized bone transplantation.