- See:
- Blood Supply to the Humerus
- Fractures of the Humerus

- Anatomy:
  - ossification centers
- humeral head            - 3 months
- greater tuberosity     - 3 years
- lesser tuberosity       - 5 years
  - proximal humeral epiphysis:
- fuses by 21 years
- contribute 80% of longitudinal growth
- epiphyseal plate:
- irregularly  cone shaped with apex pointing superiorly, posteriorly and medially in relationship to shaft
- configuration interlocks physis and metaphysis at the plate.
- position of apex tends to resist axial and posterior forces.
- thickened periosteum anchors head and tuberosities to shaft
- anterior periosteum is thinner and weaker
- posterior periosteum is thicker
- ensures adequate blood supply to head by secure fixation to physis;
- Major rays of Trabeculae:
- medial ray:
- passes into inferomedial aspect of head
- assists in resisting deformation by static loading
- lateral ray:
- passes vertically to tuberosity with second ray passing to superolateral aspect of head.
- asists to resist static loading

The arterial vascularization of the humeral head. An anatomical study.