tubercula

Tubercula are small, rounded bony protuberances. The word is the plural form of tuberculum, a Latin term meaning a small bump or eminence. In anatomy, tubercula describe minor prominences that often serve as attachment sites for muscles or as articulation points within joints. The size and exact location of tubercula vary among species and individuals, but the concept remains a standard descriptive term in skeletal biology.

In humans, several well-known tubercula illustrate their functional roles. The proximal humerus bears the greater tubercle (tuberculum majus) and the lesser tubercle (tuberculum minus), both of which provide attachment sites for rotator cuff muscles and lie near the intertubercular groove through which tendons pass. The tuberculum costae, or rib tubercle, is a knob on a rib near its neck that articulates with the transverse process of the corresponding thoracic vertebra, contributing to the costotransverse joint. The tuberculum sellae on the sphenoid bone forms part of the boundary of the sella turcica in the skull.

Clinically, tubercula can be involved in injuries such as avulsion fractures, where tendon or muscle force pulls a fragment away from the bone at the tubercle. The term helps describe precise sites on the skeleton, aiding diagnosis and communication in anatomy, radiology, and orthopedics.

Tubercula are distinct from larger bony prominences called tuberosities and from ridges or crests. They are one of several morphological terms used to catalog bone surface features.