Lecture 12 - Femur

Question 1

What are the 16 landmarks of the femur?

Answer 1

• head
• neck
• greater & lesser trochanter
• Intertrochanteric line (anterior only)
• shaft
• medial & lateral epicondyle
• medial & lateral condyle
• adductor tubercle
• patellar surface
• Intertrochanteric crest (posterior only)
• Linea Aspera (posterior only)
• medial & lateral supracondylar ridge
• Intercondylar notch
• popliteal surface
• femoral condyles

Question 2

What is the head of the femur?

Answer 2

• includes the fovea capitus
• which is a small depression on the head of the femur
• site of attachment for the ligament of the head of the femur

Question 3

What is Q-Angle?

Answer 3

• where the femur is obliquely angulated towards the midline of the body
• One line drawn extending from the ASIS through the midline of the patella
• Second line drawn vertically through the middle of the patellar tendon

Question 4

What are the divisions of the Linea Aspera?

Answer 4

• Superior Divisions:
  • Laterally becomes the gluteal Tuberosity
  • Medially becomes the pectineal line
• Inferior Divisions:
  • Medial & lateral supracondylar ridges

Question 5

What is the hip joint?

Answer 5

• the Articulation between the head of the femur & the lunate surface of the acetabulum of the Innominate bone

Question 6

What are the attachment points of the hip joint?

Answer 6

• Just beyond the acetabulum over the femur
• Level of the Intertrochanteric line anteriorly
• Halfway down femoral neck posteriorly

Question 7

What are the 3 capsular ligaments of the femur & hip joint?

Answer 7

• iliofemoral ligament
• pubofemoral ligament
• ischiofemoral ligament

Question 8

What is the iliofemoral ligament?

Answer 8

• “Y” ligament/ligament of bigelow
• Attachment points:
  • Anterior margin of acetabulum & AIIS
  • Greater trochanter & Intertrochanteric line
• Tight in hip extension

Question 9

What is the pubofemoral ligament?

Answer 9

• Attachment points:
  • Body of the pubis
  • Femoral neck
  • Spirals down under the neck
• Tight in hip extension & abduction

Question 10

What is the ischiofemoral ligament?

Answer 10

• Attachment points:
  • Ischium posterior to the acetabulum
  • Rolls over the neck of the femur
  • Attaches anteriorly on the greater trochanter
• Tight in hip extension & medial rotation