Athletic Training & Sports Medicine Center

AH 321 Assessment of Athletic Injuries/Illnesses Laboratory

Bony Palpation Skill Sheet

Hand & Wrist	Arm	Hip, Pelvis & Spine	Foot & Ankle
Forearm	Shoulder Girdle	Knee	Head & Face
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Arm (Humerus)

Bony Landmark (include alternative name if applicable)	Related Information such as purpose, function, attachment of ligaments, tendon, soft tissues involved	Preferred Body & Joint Position best for palpation	Anatomical Description of Location relative to other structures	Skeleton Picture or Video	Model Picture or Video
Humeral greater tubercle	Serves as an attachment for the anterior circumflex humeral artery	Patient sitting in a chair with the examiner standing behind them	Located laterally to the lateral tip of the acromion
Humeral lesser tubercle	Is the attachment for the subscapularis and to its sharp lateral margin the transverse ligament	Elbow flexed to 90 degrees; the examiner will place his/her finger into the bony prominence of the bicipital groove; The examiner will then externally rotate the arm and a bump will be felt, the examiners finger should feel another bump that is the lesser tubercle; To better locate the lesser tubercle you can internally and externally rotate the shoulder	The lesser tubercle is on the anterior aspect of the humerus bone imediately beyond the anatomical neck, and shows a smooth, muscular impression on its upper part
Humeral head		Sitting or supine with arm relaxed	Proximal end of the humerus; fits into glenoid cavity of scapula
Humeral neck	Serves as an attachment for the lesser tubercle	Patient should be standing with arm slightly abducted and relaxed	The neck is just inferior to the humeral head
Humeral shaft	The humerus serves as the insertion of the deltoid tuberosity	The patient can be standing or seated, facing the examiner with shoulders in neutral position	Located distal to the glenohumeral head and proximal to the medial and lateral epicondyles
Intertubercular groove, bicipital groove	Attachment site of teres major, latissimus dorsi, and pectoralis major	Arm in external rotation, patient sitting or standing	Bordered laterally by the greater tuberosity and medially by the lesser tuberosity
Deltoid tuberosity	Serves as the insertion for the deltoid muscle	Patient standing and relaxed	Located superior to the triceps muscle
Olecranon fossa	It houses the olecranon of the ulna; part of the triceps brachii tendon covers the superior ridge of the fossa	Place the patient in anatomical position with the elbows flexed about 20 degrees	Palpate just below the posterior distal end of the humerus; This fossa is where the proximal end of the ulna sits when the elbow is fully flexed
Medial epicondyle	Attachment site of forearm flexors and forms the cubital tunnel	Slight elbow flexion	Distal, medial end of humerus
Lateral epicondyle	Serves as the site of attachment for the lateral collateral ligament	Patient standing, relaxed with arm flexed to 30 degrees	Located lateral to the olecranon process	XXX
Cubital tunnel	Triangular space bordered laterally and medially by the pronator teres	Elbow flexed at approximately 30 degrees	Located between the two epicondyles of the humerus
Capitulum	Articulates with the head of the radius	Seated or standing, with elbow flexed to 90°	Distal portion of lateral epicondyle; only the lateral edge is palpable