Femur Flashcards
Femur
longest, heaviest and strongest bone in the body
head
rounded proximal part of the bone that fits into the acetabulum
it constitutes more of a sphere than the hemispherical head of the humerus
fovea capitis
small, nonarticular depression near the centre of the head of the femur
neck
connects the head with the shaft
greater trochanter
large, blunt, nonarticular prominence on the lateral, proximal part of the femur
interochanteric line
is a variable, fairly vertical, roughened line that passes between the lesser and greater trochanters on the anterior surface of the base of the neck of the femur
trochanteric fossa
is the pit excavated into the posteromedial wall of the greater trochanter
obturator externes groove
shallow depression aligned laterally and superiorly across the posterior surface of the femoral neck
lesser trochanter
the blunt, prominent tubercle on the posterior femoral surface just inferior to the point where the neck joins the shaft
intertrochanteric crest
elevated line on the posterior surface of the proximal femur between the greater and lesser trochanters
gluteal line/tuberosity
long, wide, roughened, posterolaterally placed feature that extends from the base of the greater trochanter to the lip of the line aspera
It can be a depression or is a true tuberosity (third trochanter)
spiral line
spiraling inferior to the lesser trochanter, connects the inferior end of the intertrochanteric line with the medial lip of the line aspera
pectineal line
short, curved line that passes inferolaterally from the base of the lesser trochanter, between the spiral line and gluteal tuberosity
femoral shaft
the long section between the expanded proximal and distal ends of the bone
linea aspera
the long, wide, roughened, elevated ridge that runs along the posterior shaft surface
nutrient foramen
located about mid shaft level on the posterior surface of the bone, adjacent to or on the line aspera
medial supracondylar line (ridge)
the inferior, medial extension of the linea aspera marking the distal, medial corner of the shaft
fainter than the lateral supracondylar line
lateral supracondylar line (ridge)
is the inferior (distal) lateral extension of the line aspera
More pronounced than medial supracondylar line
popliteal surface
the wide, flat, triangular area of the posterior, distal femur
lateral condyle
the large, protruding articular knob on the lateral side of the distal femur
lateral epicondyle
is the convexity on the lateral side of the lateral condyle
popliteal groove
a smooth, hollow on the posterolateral side of the lateral condyle
medial condyle
the large, articular knob on the medial side of the distal femur
Its medial surface bulges away from the axis of the shaft
Extends more distally than the lateral condyle
medial epicondyle
the convexity on the medial side of the medial condyle
adductor tubercle
variable, raised tubercle on the medial supracondylar ridge just superior to the medial epicondyle
intercondylar fossa/notch
the nonarticular, excavated surface between the distal and posterior articular surfaces of the condyles
patellar surface
a notched articular area on the anterior surface of the distal femur
the lateral surface of this notch is elevated, projecting more anteriorly than the medial boundary fo the notch
Siding: intact femora/proximal ends
head is proximal and faces medially
the lesser trochanter and linea aspera are posterior
Siding: isolated femoral heads
the fovea is medial and displaced posteriorly and inferiorly
the posteroinferior head-neck junction is more deeply excavated than the anterosuperior junction
Siding: proximal femoral shafts
the nutrient foramen opens distally and the linea aspera is posterior and thins inferiorly
the gluteal tuberosity is superior and faces posterolaterally
Siding: femoral midshafts
the nutrient foramen opens distally, the bone widens distally and the lateral posterior surface is usually more concave than the medial posterior surface
Siding: distal femoral shafts
the shaft widens distally, and the lateral supracondylar ridge is more prominent than the medial
the medial condyle extends more distally than the lateral
Siding: femoral distal ends
the intercondylar notch is posterior and distal and the lateral boarder of the patellar notch is more elevated
the lateral condyle bears the popliteal groove and the medial condyle bulges away form the line of the shaft
