Femur

Question 1

What is the femur?

Answer 1

The only bone in the thigh

Question 2

What is the femur classed as?

Answer 2

A long bone

Question 3

What is the main function of the femur?

Answer 3

To transmit forces from the tibia to the hip joint

Question 4

What does the femur act as?

Answer 4

The place of origin and attachment of many muscles and ligaments

Question 5

What can the femur be split into?

Answer 5

Three areas, proximal, shaft, and distal

Question 6

What does the proximal area of the femur form?

Answer 6

The hip joint with the pelvis

Question 7

What does the proximal area of the femur consist of?

Answer 7

A head and neck
Two bony processes called trochanters
Bony ridges connecting the trochanters

Question 8

What does the head of the femur have?

Answer 8

A smooth surface, with a depression on the medial surface

Question 9

What is the depression on the head of the femur for?

Answer 9

Attachment of the ligament of the head

Question 10

What happens to the head of the femur at the hip joint?

Answer 10

It articulates with the acetabulum of the pelvis

Question 11

What does the neck of the femur do?

Answer 11

Connects the head of the femur with the shaft

Question 12

What shape is the neck of the femur?

Answer 12

Cylindrical

Question 13

In what direction does the neck of the femur project?

Answer 13

Superior and medial

Question 14

What does the angle of projection of the neck of the femur allow for?

Answer 14

An increased range of movement at the hip joint

Question 15

What is the greater trochanter?

Answer 15

A projection of bone

Question 16

Where does the greater trochanter originate from?

Answer 16

The anterior shaft, just lateral to where the neck joins

Question 17

How is the greater trochanter angled?

Answer 17

Superiorly and posteriorly

Question 18

Where can the greater trochanter be found?

Answer 18

Both on the anterior and posterior sides of the femur

Question 19

What is the greater trochanter the site of?

Answer 19

Attachment of the abductor and lateral rotator muscles of the leg

Question 20

How does the lesser trochanter differ from the greater trochanter?

Answer 20

It is much smaller

Question 21

Where does the lesser trochanter project from?

Answer 21

The posteromedial side of the shaft, just inferior to the neck-shaft junction

Question 22

What is the lesser trochanter the site of?

Answer 22

Attachment of the psoas major and iliacus muscles

Question 23

What is the intertrochanteric line?

Answer 23

A ridge of bone

Question 24

Where does the intertrochanteric line run?

Answer 24

In an inferomedial direction on the anterior surface of the femur, connecting the two trochanters together

Question 25

What attaches to the intertrochanteric line?

Answer 25

The iliofemoral ligament

Question 26

What is the iliofemoral ligament?

Answer 26

A very strong ligament of the hip joint

Question 27

What happens after the intertrochanteric line passes the lesser trochanter on the posterior surface?

Answer 27

It becomes known as the pectineal line

Question 28

What is the intertrochanteric crest?

Answer 28

A ridge of bone that connects the two trochanters together

Question 29

Where is the intertrochanteric crest located?

Answer 29

On the posterior surface of the femur

Question 30

What is found on the intertrochanteric crest?

Answer 30

A rounded tubercle on its superior half, called the quadrate tubercle

Question 31

What is the quadrate tubercle the site for?

Answer 31

Attachment of the quadratus femoris

Question 32

Why are fractures of the femoral neck a very good predictor of mortality?

Answer 32

Within a year, 1/3 of people with a hip fracture will die

Question 33

What can fractures of the femoral neck be classified into clinically?

Answer 33

Intracapsular fracture  | Extracapsular fracture

Question 34

Who are intracapsular fractures more common in?

Answer 34

The elderly, especially women

Question 35

What are intracapsular fractures the result of?

Answer 35

A minor trip or stumble

Question 36

Where does an intracapsular fracture occur?

Answer 36

Within the capsule of the hip joint

Question 37

What can an intracapsular fracture cause?

Answer 37

Damage to the medial femoral circumflex artery and therefore avascular necrosis of the femoral head

Question 38

What happens in an intracapsular fracture?

Answer 38

The distal fragment is pulled upwards, and rotated laterally

Question 39

How can an intracapsular fracture manifest clinically?

Answer 39

Shorter leg length, with toes pointing laterally

Question 40

Who are extracapsular fractures more common in?

Answer 40

Young and middle aged people

Question 41

What happens in an extracapsular fracture?

Answer 41

The leg is shortened and laterally rotated | The blood supply to the head of the femur is intact, and so no avascular necrosis can occur

Question 42

How does the shaft of the femur descend?

Answer 42

In a slight medial direction

Question 43

What is the result of the medial descent of the femur shaft?

Answer 43

It brings the knees closer to the body’s centre of gravity, increasing stability

Question 44

What is found on the posterior surface of the femoral shaft?

Answer 44

Roughened ridges of bone called the linea aspera

Question 45

What does the linea aspera become?

Answer 45

The medial border becomes the pectineal line  | The lateral border becomes the gluteal tuberoisty

Question 46

Where does the linea aspera become the pectineal line and gluteal tuberosity?

Answer 46

Proximally

Question 47

What happens at the gluteal tuberosity?

Answer 47

The gluteus maximus attaches

Question 48

What happens to the linea aspera distally?

Answer 48

It widens and forms the floor of the popliteal fossa  | The medial and lateral borders form the medial and lateral supracondylar lines

Question 49

Where does the medial supracondyle line stop?

Answer 49

At the adductor tubercle

Question 50

What happens at the adductor tubercle?

Answer 50

The adductor magnus attaches

Question 51

How common are fractures of the femur shaft?

Answer 51

Relatively uncommon

Question 52

What do fractures of the femur shaft require?

Answer 52

A lot of force

Question 53

What are fractures of the femoral shaft usually a result of?

Answer 53

Traumatic injury

Question 54

Give an example of a classification of femoral shaft fracture

Answer 54

Spiral fracture

Question 55

How can a spiral fracture present?

Answer 55

Leg shortening

Question 56

What is the loss of leg length in spiral fractures due to?

Answer 56

The fragments overriding, pulled by the attached muscles

Question 57

What is the result of the mechanism of spiral fracture injury usually being high energy?

Answer 57

The surrounding soft tissues may also be damaged

Question 58

Give an example of a possible sequelae of a femoral shaft fracture?

Answer 58

A femoral nerve palsy

Question 59

What is important to ensure when the femoral shaft is fractured?

Answer 59

To ensure the blood supply from the femoral artery hasn’t been compromised

Question 60

What is the distal end of the femur characterised by?

Answer 60

The presence of the medial and lateral condyles

Question 61

What do the medial and lateral condyles articulate with?

Answer 61

The tibia and patella

Question 62

What is formed by the articulation of the condyles and the tibia and patella?

Answer 62

The knee joint

Question 63

What are the medial and lateral condyles of the femur?

Answer 63

Rounded areas at the end of the femur

Question 64

What do the posterior and inferior surfaces of the medial and lateral condyles articulate with?

Answer 64

The tibia and menisci of the knee

Question 65

What do the anterior surfaces of the medial and lateral condyles articulate with?

Answer 65

The patella

Question 66

What are the medial and lateral epicondyles of the femur?

Answer 66

Bony elevations on the non articular areas of the condyles

Question 67

What are the medial and lateral epicondyles the site of?

Answer 67

Attachment of some muscles and collateral ligaments of the knee

Question 68

What is the intercondylar fossa?

Answer 68

A depression found on the posterior surface of the femur

Question 69

Where is the intercondylar fossa?

Answer 69

Between the two condyles

Question 70

What does the intercondylar fossa contain?

Answer 70

Two facets for attachment of internal knee ligaments

Question 71

Where is the facet for attachment of the posterior cruciate ligament?

Answer 71

Medial wall of the intercondylar fossa

Question 72

What is the facet for attachment of the posterior cruciate ligament?

Answer 72

A large, rounded, flat face where the posterior cruciate ligament of the knee attaches

Question 73

Where is the facet for attachment of the anterior cruciate ligament found?

Answer 73

The lateral wall of the intercondylar fossa

Question 74

How does the facet for attachment of the anterior cruciate ligament differ from the posterior?

Answer 74

It is smaller