humerus

noun

hu·​mer·​us ˈhyü-mə-rəs 

plural humeri ˈhyü-mə-ˌrī 

-ˌrē

: the long bone of the upper arm or forelimb extending from the shoulder to the elbow

Examples of humerus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The team noted a series of ridges that spiraled up and down its hollow humerus bone. —Ashley Strickland, CNN, 9 Sep. 2024

Probing the humerus of Inabtanin alarabia, which has a 15-foot wingspan, showed an entirely different structure inside the hollow bone. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 6 Sep. 2024

Researchers led by Yousuke Kaifu of the University of Tokyo recovered the new arm bone—an incomplete humerus measuring just 8.8 centimeters long—from Mata Menge, along with some additional teeth. —Jeanna Bryner, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2024

There are four muscles that form a cover for the top of the humerus (bone of the upper arm). —Laura Dorwart, Verywell Health, 13 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin humerus, umerus upper arm, shoulder; akin to Goth ams shoulder, Greek ōmos

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

humerus

noun

hu·​mer·​us ˈhyüm-(ə-)rəs 

plural humeri ˈhyü-mə-ˌrī 

-ˌrē

: the long bone of the upper arm or forelimb that extends from the shoulder to the elbow

Medical Definition

humerus

noun

hu·​mer·​us ˈhyüm-(ə-)rəs 

plural humeri ˈhyü-mə-ˌrī  -ˌrē 

: the longest bone of the upper arm or forelimb extending from the shoulder to the elbow, articulating above by a rounded head with the glenoid cavity, having below a broad articular surface divided by a ridge into a medial pulley-shaped portion and a lateral rounded eminence that articulate with the ulna and radius respectively, and providing various processes and modified surfaces for the attachment of muscles