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Human bicipital groove: a morphometric study on dry humerus

Year 2025, Volume: 19 Issue: 1, 8 - 15, 30.04.2025

Mehmet Ülkir , Mehmet Yılmaz , Aybegüm Balcı , Burcu Erçakmak Güneş , Ceren Günenç Beşer

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the morphometry of the bicipital groove on dry humeri, which is closely associated with the long head of the biceps tendon, a key component in shoulder biomechanics.
Methods: This study involved 109 adult human dry humeri (56 right, 53 left). The humerus length (HL), bicipital groove length (BGL), bicipital groove width (BGW), bicipital groove depth (BGD), opening angle (OA) and medial wall angle (MWA) were measured.
Results: The mean value of HL was measured 30.97±2.01 cm and the mean value of BGL was 89.70±8.09 mm. The mean value of BGW was 10.31±1.51 mm and BGD was 3.98±0.79 mm. The mean value of OA was 99.85±14.53° and MWA was 42.31±8.25°. No significant differences were observed between the right and left sides in the measured parameters. Positive correlations were found between BGW and BGD, BGW and OA, MWA and BGD, and HL and BGL. Negative correlations were observed between BGL and BGD, OA and BGD, and MWA and BGW.
Conclusion: We believe the detailed morphometric evaluation of the bicipital groove presented in this study provides valuable insights into the pathologies of the long head of the biceps tendon and its implications for shoulder arthroplasty.

Keywords

anatomy bicipital groove long head of biceps morphometry

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval was obtained from Hacettepe University Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee (30.07.2024, decision number: 2024/13-01).

Supporting Institution

none

Thanks

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References

  • Wafae N, Santamaría LEA, Vitor L, Pereira LA, Ruiz CR, Wafae GC. Morphometry of the human bicipital groove (sulcus intertubercularis). J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2010;19:65–8.
  • Standring S, editor. Gray’s Anatomy. The anatomical basis of clinical practice. 41st ed. London, UK: Elsevier; 2016. p. 804–807.
  • Karmali NK, Modi S. Morphological and morphometric study on bicipital groove of humerus in eastern Indian population. Internatinal Journal of Medical and Health Research 2019;5:25–7.
  • Kumar P, Saha S, Arora G, Aneja PS. Detailed morphometry and morphology of bicipital groove of humerus among North Indian population. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research 2021;15:AC01–AC5.
  • Srimani P, Saha R, Goswami B, Mazumdar S. Morphometric analysis of bicipital groove of humerus with clinical implications: a study in West Bengal. International Journal of Anatomy and Research 2016;4:3009–15.
  • Rajani S, Man S. Review of bicipital groove morphology and its analysis in north Indian population. ISRN Anat 2013;2013:243780.
  • Abboud JA, Bartolozzi AR, Widmer BJ, DeMola PM. Bicipital groove morphology on MRI has no correlation to intra-articular biceps tendon pathology. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2010;19:790–4.
  • Hitchcock HH, Bechtol CO. Painful shoulder: observations on the role of the tendon of the long head of the biceps brachii in its causation. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1948;30:263–73.
  • Sethi N, Wright R, Yamaguchi K. Disorders of the long head of the biceps tendon. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 1999;8:644–54.
  • Ashwini N, Venkateshu K. Morphometric analysis of bicipital groove of upper end of humerus in South Indian population. International Journal of Anatomy and Research 2017;5:3870–75.
  • Venkatesan R, Gnanadeepam JC, Rajavel ATS, Eswaran S, Radhakrishnan M, Lakshmanan B, Mathavan H. Morphometry and morphology of the human bicipital groove with its clinical significance. Indian Journal of Basic and Applied Medical Research 2017;6:99–107.
  • Cardoso A, Ferreira J, Viegas R, Amaro P, Gamelas P, Alonso R, Pires L. Radiographic evaluation of the bicipital groove morphology does not predict intraarticular changes in the long head of biceps tendon. Radiología (Engl Ed) 2023;65:S3–9.
  • Tang X, Zhang J, Zhang J, He Y. Correlation between the morphological features of the biceps groove and injuries to the biceps pulley and the long head tendon of the biceps. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2023;24:377.
  • Song HS, Kim H. Anatomical analysis of bicipital groove and its spur formation using 3D-CT: a retrospective observational study. Life (Basel) 2024;14:1529.
  • Duran S, Çayhan V, Günaydın E. Correlation of the depth, medial wall and opening angle of the bicipital groove and the dimensions of long head of the biceps tendon. Anatomy 2023;17:49–54.
  • Ulucakoy C, Kaptan AY, Yapar A, Orhan O, Ozer M, Kanatli U. The effect of bicipital groove morphology on the stability of the biceps long head tendon. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 2021;141:1325–30.
  • Ahovuo J. Radiographic anatomy of the intertubercular groove of the humerus. Eur J Radiol 1985;5:83–6.
  • Pfahler M, Branner S, Refior H. The role of the bicipital groove in tendopathy of the long biceps tendon. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 1999;8:419–24.
  • DePalma AF. Surgical anatomy of the rotator cuff and the natural history of degenerative periarthritis. Surg Clin North Am 1963;43:1507–20.
  • Smith A. Morphologic classification of the bicipital groove. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS'07) SanDiego, CA, USA, 2007.
  • Balg F, Boulianne M, Boileau P. Bicipital groove orientation: considerations for the retroversion of a prosthesis in fractures of the proximal humerus. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2006;15:195–8.

Year 2025, Volume: 19 Issue: 1, 8 - 15, 30.04.2025

Mehmet Ülkir , Mehmet Yılmaz , Aybegüm Balcı , Burcu Erçakmak Güneş , Ceren Günenç Beşer

Abstract

References

  • Wafae N, Santamaría LEA, Vitor L, Pereira LA, Ruiz CR, Wafae GC. Morphometry of the human bicipital groove (sulcus intertubercularis). J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2010;19:65–8.
  • Standring S, editor. Gray’s Anatomy. The anatomical basis of clinical practice. 41st ed. London, UK: Elsevier; 2016. p. 804–807.
  • Karmali NK, Modi S. Morphological and morphometric study on bicipital groove of humerus in eastern Indian population. Internatinal Journal of Medical and Health Research 2019;5:25–7.
  • Kumar P, Saha S, Arora G, Aneja PS. Detailed morphometry and morphology of bicipital groove of humerus among North Indian population. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research 2021;15:AC01–AC5.
  • Srimani P, Saha R, Goswami B, Mazumdar S. Morphometric analysis of bicipital groove of humerus with clinical implications: a study in West Bengal. International Journal of Anatomy and Research 2016;4:3009–15.
  • Rajani S, Man S. Review of bicipital groove morphology and its analysis in north Indian population. ISRN Anat 2013;2013:243780.
  • Abboud JA, Bartolozzi AR, Widmer BJ, DeMola PM. Bicipital groove morphology on MRI has no correlation to intra-articular biceps tendon pathology. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2010;19:790–4.
  • Hitchcock HH, Bechtol CO. Painful shoulder: observations on the role of the tendon of the long head of the biceps brachii in its causation. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1948;30:263–73.
  • Sethi N, Wright R, Yamaguchi K. Disorders of the long head of the biceps tendon. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 1999;8:644–54.
  • Ashwini N, Venkateshu K. Morphometric analysis of bicipital groove of upper end of humerus in South Indian population. International Journal of Anatomy and Research 2017;5:3870–75.
  • Venkatesan R, Gnanadeepam JC, Rajavel ATS, Eswaran S, Radhakrishnan M, Lakshmanan B, Mathavan H. Morphometry and morphology of the human bicipital groove with its clinical significance. Indian Journal of Basic and Applied Medical Research 2017;6:99–107.
  • Cardoso A, Ferreira J, Viegas R, Amaro P, Gamelas P, Alonso R, Pires L. Radiographic evaluation of the bicipital groove morphology does not predict intraarticular changes in the long head of biceps tendon. Radiología (Engl Ed) 2023;65:S3–9.
  • Tang X, Zhang J, Zhang J, He Y. Correlation between the morphological features of the biceps groove and injuries to the biceps pulley and the long head tendon of the biceps. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2023;24:377.
  • Song HS, Kim H. Anatomical analysis of bicipital groove and its spur formation using 3D-CT: a retrospective observational study. Life (Basel) 2024;14:1529.
  • Duran S, Çayhan V, Günaydın E. Correlation of the depth, medial wall and opening angle of the bicipital groove and the dimensions of long head of the biceps tendon. Anatomy 2023;17:49–54.
  • Ulucakoy C, Kaptan AY, Yapar A, Orhan O, Ozer M, Kanatli U. The effect of bicipital groove morphology on the stability of the biceps long head tendon. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 2021;141:1325–30.
  • Ahovuo J. Radiographic anatomy of the intertubercular groove of the humerus. Eur J Radiol 1985;5:83–6.
  • Pfahler M, Branner S, Refior H. The role of the bicipital groove in tendopathy of the long biceps tendon. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 1999;8:419–24.
  • DePalma AF. Surgical anatomy of the rotator cuff and the natural history of degenerative periarthritis. Surg Clin North Am 1963;43:1507–20.
  • Smith A. Morphologic classification of the bicipital groove. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS'07) SanDiego, CA, USA, 2007.
  • Balg F, Boulianne M, Boileau P. Bicipital groove orientation: considerations for the retroversion of a prosthesis in fractures of the proximal humerus. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2006;15:195–8.
There are 21 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Orthopaedics
Journal Section Original Articles
Authors

Mehmet Ülkir 0000-0001-5615-8913

Mehmet Yılmaz 0000-0001-8395-4675

Aybegüm Balcı 0000-0002-6345-1082

Burcu Erçakmak Güneş 0000-0001-6936-0766

Ceren Günenç Beşer 0000-0002-8230-3974

Publication Date April 30, 2025
Submission Date October 15, 2024
Acceptance Date February 12, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 19 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Ülkir, M., Yılmaz, M., Balcı, A., Erçakmak Güneş, B., et al. (2025). Human bicipital groove: a morphometric study on dry humerus. Anatomy, 19(1), 8-15.
AMA Ülkir M, Yılmaz M, Balcı A, Erçakmak Güneş B, Günenç Beşer C. Human bicipital groove: a morphometric study on dry humerus. Anatomy. April 2025;19(1):8-15.
Chicago Ülkir, Mehmet, Mehmet Yılmaz, Aybegüm Balcı, Burcu Erçakmak Güneş, and Ceren Günenç Beşer. “Human Bicipital Groove: A Morphometric Study on Dry Humerus”. Anatomy 19, no. 1 (April 2025): 8-15.
EndNote Ülkir M, Yılmaz M, Balcı A, Erçakmak Güneş B, Günenç Beşer C (April 1, 2025) Human bicipital groove: a morphometric study on dry humerus. Anatomy 19 1 8–15.
IEEE M. Ülkir, M. Yılmaz, A. Balcı, B. Erçakmak Güneş, and C. Günenç Beşer, “Human bicipital groove: a morphometric study on dry humerus”, Anatomy, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 8–15, 2025.
ISNAD Ülkir, Mehmet et al. “Human Bicipital Groove: A Morphometric Study on Dry Humerus”. Anatomy 19/1 (April 2025), 8-15.
JAMA Ülkir M, Yılmaz M, Balcı A, Erçakmak Güneş B, Günenç Beşer C. Human bicipital groove: a morphometric study on dry humerus. Anatomy. 2025;19:8–15.
MLA Ülkir, Mehmet et al. “Human Bicipital Groove: A Morphometric Study on Dry Humerus”. Anatomy, vol. 19, no. 1, 2025, pp. 8-15.
Vancouver Ülkir M, Yılmaz M, Balcı A, Erçakmak Güneş B, Günenç Beşer C. Human bicipital groove: a morphometric study on dry humerus. Anatomy. 2025;19(1):8-15.
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