The Femur

Question 1

What is the main function of the femur?

Answer 1

Transit forces from the tibia to the hip joint

Question 2

What does the proximal end of the femur consist of? (4)

Answer 2

Head, neck, greater and less trochanter

Question 3

What is the greater trochanter?

Answer 3

Projection of bone (larger of the two) on the lateral aspect of the femur, lateral to the neck.

Question 4

What does the head of the femur articulate with?

Answer 4

The acetabulum of the pelvis (forming the hip joint)

Question 5

What is the greater trochanter a site of attachment for?

Answer 5

Many muscles in the gluteal region

Question 6

What is the lesser trochanter?

Answer 6

Posteromedial projection from femur (inferior to neck)

Question 7

What is the intertrochanteric line?

Answer 7

A ridge of bone, connecting the two trochanter on the femur on the anterior side of the femur

Question 8

What is the intertrochanteric line a site of attachment for?

Answer 8

The iliofemoral ligament (strong ligament of the hip joint).

Question 9

What is the intertrochanteric crest?

Answer 9

A ridge of bone connecting the two trochanter together, located on the posterior side of the femur

there is a rounded tubercle on its superior half, this is called the quadrate tubercle, which is where the quadratus femoris attaches

Question 10

What are the two types of fractures that can occur at the femur?

Answer 10

Intracapsular and extracapsular

Question 11

In who are intracapsular fractures of the femur more common?

Answer 11

In the elderly- especially women

Question 12

What can be damaged during an intracapsular fracture of the hip joint?

Answer 12

The femoral circumflex artery (and the fracture can cause avascular necrosis of the femoral head)

Question 13

In who are extracapsular fractures of the femur most common and what does the leg look like?

Answer 13

Young and middle aged people, leg is shortened and laterally rotated (like an intracapsular fracture)

Question 14

What is the roughened ridge of bone on the posterior side of the femoral shaft?

Answer 14

Linea aspera (latin; rough line)

Question 15

What does the linea aspera become proximally on the femur?

Answer 15

Medial-pectineal line

Lateral-gluteal tuberosity (where the gluteus maximum attaches)

Question 16

Distally what happens to the linea aspera on the femur?

Answer 16

It widens and forms the floor of the popliteal fossa
The medial and lateral borders form the medial and lateral supracondylar lines
The medial supracondylar line stops at the adductor tubercle (where the adductor magnus attaches)

Question 17

Discuss a femoral shaft fracture; common? Presentation? Other complications?

Answer 17

Relatively uncommon because it requires so much force to fracture it.
Often occur as a spiral fracture- leg shortening (muscles pull leg up)
Soft tissue surrounding it may be damaged, will need to assess the neurovascular supply to the affected limb as the femoral nerve or artery may have been damaged in the injury.

Question 18

What are the medial and lateral condyles?

Answer 18

Rounded areas at the end of the femur- articulating with the tibia and menisci of the knee and the patella

Question 19

What are the medial and lateral epicondyles?

Answer 19

Bony elevations on the non articulating areas of the condyles. They are an area of attachment.

Question 20

What is the intercondylar fossa?

Answer 20

A depression found on the posterior surface of the femur, it lies in between the two condyles

Has two facets for attachment of internal knee ligaments

Question 21

What are the two facets found in the intercondylar fossa?

Answer 21

Facet for attachment of the posterior cruciate ligament- medial wall- large rounded flat face

Facet for attachment of anterior cruciate ligament- lateral wall- smaller

Question 22

Which part of the femur do the lateral rotators of the lower limb attach to?

Answer 22

The greater trochanter

Question 23

On what part of the femur can you find the intertrochanteric crest?

Answer 23

The posterior aspect