Intertubercular Sulcus
The structure indicated is the
intertubercular sulcus of the humerus. The
intertubercular sulcus, also known as the
intertubercular groove, or
bicipital groove, is a groove separating the greater and lesser tubercles of the humerus. The tendon of the
long head of the biceps muscle runs in this groove and attaches on the
supraglenoid tubercle of the scapula. The short head of the biceps muscle on the other hand has its origin on the coracoid process of the scapula. The intertubercular sulcus is the site of
three important muscle attachments:
- Pectoralis major
- Latissmus dorsi
- Teres major
The
pectoralis major attaches to the
lateral lip of the intertubercular sulcus. The
latissimus dorsi attaches to the
floor of the intertubercular sulcus. The
teres major attaches to the
medial lip of the intertubercular sulcus. The insertion point of the latissimus dorsi is therefore sandwiched between the insertion points of the teres major and the pectoralis major. This anatomical relationship can be remembered with the mnemonic “the lady between two majors”. Learn more about the
anatomy of the humerus in this tutorial.
