The long bone of the upper arm, extending from the shoulder to the elbow. It articulates with the scapula at the glenohumeral joint proximally and with the radius and ulna at the elbow distally, serving as attachment for many arm muscles.
From Latin 'humerus' meaning shoulder or upper arm, possibly related to 'humus' (earth or ground). The term has been used consistently since Roman anatomical descriptions.
The humerus has a spiral groove called the radial groove where the radial nerve wraps around the bone - this is why a mid-shaft humerus fracture can cause 'wrist drop' where you can't lift your hand up! It's also the bone that creates your 'funny bone' sensation when you hit your elbow, though that's actually the ulnar nerve being compressed against the bone.
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