Morphometric Study of the Human Bicipital Groove and Its Relation to Biceps Tendon Pathology: A Dry Bone and Ultrasound Correlation

International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology | Vol. 15, No. 10, October 2026 | pp. 118–126

DOI: 10.46882/2026/IJAP/001014

Research Article

Title: Morphometric Study of the Human Bicipital Groove and Its Relation to Biceps Tendon Pathology: A Dry Bone and Ultrasound Correlation

Names of Authors: S. T. Nwosu¹, P. C. Wang²*

Authors’ Affiliations:
¹ Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu, Nigeria.
² Department of Orthopedic Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.

Abstract:
The bicipital groove of the humerus guides and stabilizes the long head of the biceps brachii tendon. Deviations in groove morphology are associated with tendon subluxation, bicipital tenosynovitis, and mechanical impingement. This study evaluated the morphometric configuration of the bicipital groove using dry humeri and correlated these dimensions with ultrasound evaluations in symptomatic patients. In the anatomical phase, 120 dry adult human humeri were measured to determine groove length, width, and depth using a digital vernier caliper, and the medial wall angle was measured with a goniometer. In the clinical phase, 45 patients presenting with anterior shoulder pain underwent high-resolution musculoskeletal ultrasound. The dry bone analysis revealed a mean groove length of 54.2 ± 4.6 mm, a width of 10.1 ± 1.3 mm, and a depth of 4.8 ± 0.8 mm. The mean medial wall angle was 48.5° ± 6.2°. The clinical ultrasound phase showed that patients with an exceptionally shallow bicipital groove (depth <3.5 mm) and a wide medial wall angle (>60°) had a significantly higher incidence of biceps tendon subluxation and tendinopathy (p < 0.01). These results demonstrate that a shallow, wide structural anatomy reduces mechanical containment, predisposing the tendon to instability. This study provides valuable parameters for orthopedic surgeons performing bicipital tenodesis or shoulder arthroplasty.

Keywords: Bicipital groove, Humerus, Biceps tendon, Musculoskeletal ultrasound, Morphometry.

Manuscript Timeline: Received: July 05, 2026; Revised: September 02, 2026; Accepted: September 22, 2026; Published: October 22, 2026.

Citation: Nwosu ST, Wang PC. Morphometric Study of the Human Bicipital Groove and Its Relation to Biceps Tendon Pathology: A Dry Bone and Ultrasound Correlation. International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology. 2026; 15(10): 118–126. doi:10.46882/2026/IJAP/001014

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