The angle of humeral torsion may be determined in living subjects by computerised axial tomography, in conjunction with immobilisation of the arm on a rigid board. Transverse scans of each humerus through the proximal and distal ends were obtained in 28 control subjects. The mean angle of torsion was found to be 62.8 degrees with a range of 40 degrees (minimal value 42 degrees, maximal value 82 degrees). These figures were comparable to results obtained by other authors. The wide spread of the measured values allows the clinical application of the humeral torsions exclusively in relation with the contra-lateral side for preoperative planning.