What does humerus mean?
The humerus is the long bone of the upper arm. It runs from the shoulder joint down to the elbow, where it meets the radius and ulna to form the elbow joint. Despite being called simply the upper-arm bone in everyday speech, the humerus also serves as a major attachment point for muscles that move the arm at the shoulder, bend the elbow, and help rotate the forearm. The word is especially common in medical and anatomical contexts, including descriptions of fractures, dislocations, imaging, surgery, and anatomy. The proximal humerus is the rounded end nearest the shoulder, while the distal humerus is the lower end that forms the elbow. In ordinary conversation, people may say arm bone, but the technical term humerus makes the location more exact. Its Greek and Latin ancestry reflects its long association with the shoulder and arm, and it remains a standard term in anatomy and clinical medicine.
nounThe humerus is the long bone of the upper arm, extending from the shoulder to the elbow. It forms the upper part of the elbow joint and provides attachment for several muscles of the shoulder, arm, and forearm.
- The long bone of the upper arm, between the shoulder and the elbow.
"The surgeon carefully repaired the fracture in the patient's humerus."
"The humerus connects the shoulder to the elbow and helps the arm bend and straighten."
"A fall in which a person lands on an outstretched arm can fracture the humerus."
The standard plural in anatomy is humeri; humeruses is also accepted in less technical usage.
"Both humeri were examined during the medical examination."
The humerus is the body's long lever for the upper arm: every time you bend your elbow, this single bone is at the center of the action.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does humerus come from?
The English word comes from Latin humerus, meaning “upper arm” or “shoulder.” The Latin term was borrowed into English and later became the standard anatomical name for the bone of the upper arm. Its wider language family includes related forms in French and Spanish that also descend from Latin usage.
Related word forms
How humerus is actually used
In anatomy, the term is precise and is normally used in the singular for one bone. The plural is humeri, while humeruses is also accepted in general writing.
Easily confused with humerus
The humerus is the bone of the upper arm, whereas the femur is the bone of the thigh.