Bicipital groove

The bicipital groove (intertubercular groove, sulcus intertubercularis) is a deep groove on the humerus that separates the greater tubercle from the lesser tubercle. It allows for the long tendon of the biceps brachii muscle to pass.

Bicipital
Left humerus. Anterior view. (Intertubercular groove visible at top.)
intertubercular groove, upper left.
Details
Identifiers
Latin	sulcus intertubercularis
TA98	A02.4.04.007
TA2	1186
FMA	23396
Anatomical terms of bone [edit on Wikidata]

Structure

The bicipital groove separates the greater tubercle from the lesser tubercle.^[1] It is usually around 8 cm long and 1 cm wide in adults.^[1] The groove lodges the long tendon of the biceps brachii muscle, positioned between the tendon of the pectoralis major muscle on the lateral lip and the tendon of the teres major muscle on the medial lip. It also transmits a branch of the anterior humeral circumflex artery to the shoulder joint.^{[citation needed]}

The insertion of the latissimus dorsi muscle is found along the floor of the bicipital groove. The teres major muscle inserts on the medial lip of the groove.^{[citation needed]}

It runs obliquely downward, and ends near the junction of the upper with the middle third of the bone. It is the lateral wall of the axilla.^[2]

Function

The bicipital groove allows for the long tendon of the biceps brachii muscle to pass.^[1]

Gallery

Bicipital groove of right humerus

Anterior view of the head of left humerus. Bicipital groove seen in the middle.

See also

• Radial groove
• Medial bicipital groove