Femur Flashcards

1
Q

What is the femur?

A

The only bone in the thigh

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2
Q

What is the femur classed as?

A

A long bone

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3
Q

What is the main function of the femur?

A

To transmit forces from the tibia to the hip joint

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4
Q

What does the femur act as?

A

The place of origin and attachment of many muscles and ligaments

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5
Q

What can the femur be split into?

A

Three areas, proximal, shaft, and distal

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6
Q

What does the proximal area of the femur form?

A

The hip joint with the pelvis

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7
Q

What does the proximal area of the femur consist of?

A

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

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8
Q

What does the head of the femur have?

A

A smooth surface, with a depression on the medial surface

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9
Q

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

A

Attachment of the ligament of the head

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10
Q

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

A

It articulates with the acetabulum of the pelvis

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11
Q

What does the neck of the femur do?

A

Connects the head of the femur with the shaft

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12
Q

What shape is the neck of the femur?

A

Cylindrical

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13
Q

In what direction does the neck of the femur project?

A

Superior and medial

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14
Q

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

A

An increased range of movement at the hip joint

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15
Q

What is the greater trochanter?

A

A projection of bone

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16
Q

Where does the greater trochanter originate from?

A

The anterior shaft, just lateral to where the neck joins

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17
Q

How is the greater trochanter angled?

A

Superiorly and posteriorly

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18
Q

Where can the greater trochanter be found?

A

Both on the anterior and posterior sides of the femur

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19
Q

What is the greater trochanter the site of?

A

Attachment of the abductor and lateral rotator muscles of the leg

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20
Q

How does the lesser trochanter differ from the greater trochanter?

A

It is much smaller

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21
Q

Where does the lesser trochanter project from?

A

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

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22
Q

What is the lesser trochanter the site of?

A

Attachment of the psoas major and iliacus muscles

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23
Q

What is the intertrochanteric line?

A

A ridge of bone

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24
Q

Where does the intertrochanteric line run?

A

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

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25
Q

What attaches to the intertrochanteric line?

A

The iliofemoral ligament

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26
Q

What is the iliofemoral ligament?

A

A very strong ligament of the hip joint

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27
Q

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

A

It becomes known as the pectineal line

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28
Q

What is the intertrochanteric crest?

A

A ridge of bone that connects the two trochanters together

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29
Q

Where is the intertrochanteric crest located?

A

On the posterior surface of the femur

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30
Q

What is found on the intertrochanteric crest?

A

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

31
Q

What is the quadrate tubercle the site for?

A

Attachment of the quadratus femoris

32
Q

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

A

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

33
Q

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

A

Intracapsular fracture

Extracapsular fracture

34
Q

Who are intracapsular fractures more common in?

A

The elderly, especially women

35
Q

What are intracapsular fractures the result of?

A

A minor trip or stumble

36
Q

Where does an intracapsular fracture occur?

A

Within the capsule of the hip joint

37
Q

What can an intracapsular fracture cause?

A

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

38
Q

What happens in an intracapsular fracture?

A

The distal fragment is pulled upwards, and rotated laterally

39
Q

How can an intracapsular fracture manifest clinically?

A

Shorter leg length, with toes pointing laterally

40
Q

Who are extracapsular fractures more common in?

A

Young and middle aged people

41
Q

What happens in an extracapsular fracture?

A

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

42
Q

How does the shaft of the femur descend?

A

In a slight medial direction

43
Q

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

A

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

44
Q

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

A

Roughened ridges of bone called the linea aspera

45
Q

What does the linea aspera become?

A

The medial border becomes the pectineal line

The lateral border becomes the gluteal tuberoisty

46
Q

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

A

Proximally

47
Q

What happens at the gluteal tuberosity?

A

The gluteus maximus attaches

48
Q

What happens to the linea aspera distally?

A

It widens and forms the floor of the popliteal fossa

The medial and lateral borders form the medial and lateral supracondylar lines

49
Q

Where does the medial supracondyle line stop?

A

At the adductor tubercle

50
Q

What happens at the adductor tubercle?

A

The adductor magnus attaches

51
Q

How common are fractures of the femur shaft?

A

Relatively uncommon

52
Q

What do fractures of the femur shaft require?

A

A lot of force

53
Q

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

A

Traumatic injury

54
Q

Give an example of a classification of femoral shaft fracture

A

Spiral fracture

55
Q

How can a spiral fracture present?

A

Leg shortening

56
Q

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

A

The fragments overriding, pulled by the attached muscles

57
Q

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

A

The surrounding soft tissues may also be damaged

58
Q

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

A

A femoral nerve palsy

59
Q

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

A

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

60
Q

What is the distal end of the femur characterised by?

A

The presence of the medial and lateral condyles

61
Q

What do the medial and lateral condyles articulate with?

A

The tibia and patella

62
Q

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

A

The knee joint

63
Q

What are the medial and lateral condyles of the femur?

A

Rounded areas at the end of the femur

64
Q

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

A

The tibia and menisci of the knee

65
Q

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

A

The patella

66
Q

What are the medial and lateral epicondyles of the femur?

A

Bony elevations on the non articular areas of the condyles

67
Q

What are the medial and lateral epicondyles the site of?

A

Attachment of some muscles and collateral ligaments of the knee

68
Q

What is the intercondylar fossa?

A

A depression found on the posterior surface of the femur

69
Q

Where is the intercondylar fossa?

A

Between the two condyles

70
Q

What does the intercondylar fossa contain?

A

Two facets for attachment of internal knee ligaments

71
Q

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

A

Medial wall of the intercondylar fossa

72
Q

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

A

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

73
Q

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

A

The lateral wall of the intercondylar fossa

74
Q

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

A

It is smaller