68 Anatomy Applied to Medicine and Surgery. 



receives the ulna, since this part runs backwards and out- 

 wards so that the posterior end of the articular surface of 

 the humerus is one-quarter of an inch external to the 

 anterior end, and hence, when the ulna is extended, it 

 inclines outwards and produces the angle referred to 

 above. This is the ' ' carrying angle, ' ' and is called so, 

 because the fact of the forearm being inclined away 

 from the body facilitates the carrying of weights, such 

 as a pail of water, etc. On the other hand, when the fore- 

 arm is flexed, the obliquity of the articular end of the 

 humerus referred to above, causes it to incline inwards 

 towards the centre of the body rather than vertically 

 upwards, so that it is easier to touch the sternum than 

 it is the point of the shoulder on the same side. 



Fractures of the humerus immediately above the 

 condyles supra condyloidjracture may be transverse or 

 may be directed obliquely upwards and backwards, or, up- 

 wards and forwards, or, there may be added a fissure, ex- 

 tending downwards into the joint and producing what is 

 called a "T " shaped fracture. Supracondyloid fracture 

 is generally the. result of violence applied directly to the 

 olecranon and the usual deformity, viz., backwards and 

 upwards, is due to the fact that the lower fragment, and 

 with it the forearm, are carried backwards by the triceps 

 and upwards by the biceps and triceps together. The 

 deformity in supracondyloid fracture is more pronounced 

 when an attempt is made to extend the forearm. The 

 internal condyle approaches the acromion, but maintains 

 its normal relationship to the olecranon since both are 

 carried back together. Reduction is easily effected, but 

 when the traction is discontinued, the deformity recurs. 

 Crepitus and praeternatural mobility are present in this, 

 as in other fractures. When the fracture is complicated 

 by a fissure between the condyles there are, in addition to 



