What is the femur and what is its function?

The femur is the longest and strongest bone in the human body, located in the thigh. It transmits body weight from the hip joint to the tibia during standing and movement, forming both the hip and knee joints.

What are the main parts of the femur?

The femur consists of three main parts: the Upper End (including the head, neck, and greater and lesser trochanters), the Shaft (the long, cylindrical part with anterior convexity), and the Lower End (with medial and lateral condyles and epicondyles, forming part of the knee joint).

How do you determine the side of a femur bone?

To determine the side, note that the head faces upward, medially, and slightly forward, the shaft is convex anteriorly and directed downward and medially, and the lower surfaces of the condyles lie in a horizontal plane.

What are the key muscle attachments on the femur?

Key muscle attachments include the greater trochanter (for piriformis, gluteus medius/minimus, obturators, and gemelli), lesser trochanter (for psoas major and iliacus), and linea aspera (for vasti, adductors, gluteus maximus, biceps femoris, and others).

What is the clinical significance of a femoral neck fracture?

Femoral neck fractures are common in elderly females due to osteoporosis. They can be intracapsular (prone to avascular necrosis) or extracapsular (better healing prognosis), with the affected limb typically shortened and externally rotated.

How does the femur ossify?

The femur develops from 1 primary and 4 secondary ossification centers: primary center in the midshaft (appears in fetal life) and secondary centers in the head, greater trochanter, lesser trochanter, and lower end. The lower end center appears at birth, indicating fetal maturity.

What structures are found at the lower end of the femur?

The lower end includes medial and lateral condyles (with epicondyles) that articulate with the tibia and patella, and the intercondylar fossa, a deep notch between condyles with attachments for cruciate ligaments (Mnemonic: LAMP).

Femur Anatomy – Landmarks, Attachments & Fractures

❓ Frequently Asked Questions