The Femur Flashcards
What is the main function of the femur?
Transit forces from the tibia to the hip joint
What does the proximal end of the femur consist of? (4)
Head, neck, greater and less trochanter
What is the greater trochanter?
Projection of bone (larger of the two) on the lateral aspect of the femur, lateral to the neck.
What does the head of the femur articulate with?
The acetabulum of the pelvis (forming the hip joint)
What is the greater trochanter a site of attachment for?
Many muscles in the gluteal region
What is the lesser trochanter?
Posteromedial projection from femur (inferior to neck)
What is the intertrochanteric line?
A ridge of bone, connecting the two trochanter on the femur on the anterior side of the femur
What is the intertrochanteric line a site of attachment for?
The iliofemoral ligament (strong ligament of the hip joint).
What is the intertrochanteric crest?
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
What are the two types of fractures that can occur at the femur?
Intracapsular and extracapsular
In who are intracapsular fractures of the femur more common?
In the elderly- especially women
What can be damaged during an intracapsular fracture of the hip joint?
The femoral circumflex artery (and the fracture can cause avascular necrosis of the femoral head)
In who are extracapsular fractures of the femur most common and what does the leg look like?
Young and middle aged people, leg is shortened and laterally rotated (like an intracapsular fracture)
What is the roughened ridge of bone on the posterior side of the femoral shaft?
Linea aspera (latin; rough line)
What does the linea aspera become proximally on the femur?
Medial-pectineal line
Lateral-gluteal tuberosity (where the gluteus maximum attaches)
Distally what happens to the linea aspera on the femur?
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)
Discuss a femoral shaft fracture; common? Presentation? Other complications?
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.
What are the medial and lateral condyles?
Rounded areas at the end of the femur- articulating with the tibia and menisci of the knee and the patella
What are the medial and lateral epicondyles?
Bony elevations on the non articulating areas of the condyles. They are an area of attachment.
What is the intercondylar fossa?
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
What are the two facets found in the intercondylar fossa?
Facet for attachment of the posterior cruciate ligament- medial wall- large rounded flat face
Facet for attachment of anterior cruciate ligament- lateral wall- smaller
Which part of the femur do the lateral rotators of the lower limb attach to?
The greater trochanter
On what part of the femur can you find the intertrochanteric crest?
The posterior aspect
