Blood Supply to the Humerus Wheeless

Description: - main blood supply to humeral head arises from anterolateral branch of anterior humeral circumflex artery;
- this vessel passes laterally to long head of biceps & forms arcuate artery;
- arcuate artery:
- arises from ascending branch of anterior humeral circumflex artery as it penetrates bone;
- it enters into humeral head in area of intertubicular groove & gives branches to lesser and greater tuberosities;
- perfuses the entire epiphysis of the humeral head;
- posterior circumflex artery supplies only a small area in posteroinferior aspect of the humeral head
Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics