210 ANATOMY OF THE RABBIT 



the superior ramus downward and forward between the obturator 

 foramen and the symphysis to meet the corresponding ramus of 

 the pubis. 



The pubis (os pubis) consists of a basal portion or body lying 

 immediately below the acetabulum, a superior or acetabular 

 ramus extending from the body to the symphysis, and an inferior 

 or symphyseal ramus extending backward along the symphysis 

 to its junction with the ischium. The anterior margin of the bone, 

 described as the pecten oss. pubis, is thin and sharp. Near the 

 symphysis it bears a minute elevation, the pubic tubercle (tuber- 

 culum pubicum), and laterally a more extensive elevation, the 

 iliopectineal eminence (eminentia iliopectinea). The latter is more 

 conspicuous in older specimens, where it is easily recognizable by 

 its jagged outline. Its lateral margin is continuous with the 

 iliopectineal line. 



The Femur 



The femur (Fig. 96) is a somewhat S-shaped bone, the body 

 being very slightly curved, with the distal extremity bent down- 

 ward, forming the articulation of the knee, while the proximal 

 one, with its various processes, turns slightly upward in association 

 with the pelvis. In considering the general form, it will be re- 

 membered that in the natural sitting posture of the rabbit, the 

 position of the femur is approximately horizontal, the convex 

 surface of the shaft, which is equivalent to the anterior surface 

 in man, being uppermost. 



The proximal extremity of the femur bears an extensive rounded 

 portion or head (caput femoris), for articulation with the pelvic 

 girdle. This portion is separated from the main part of the ex- 

 tremity by a constricted area or neck (collum femoris), so that, 

 unlike the case of the anterior limb, the points of muscle attach- 

 ment fall a considerable distance from the point of articulation. 

 The actual extremity of the bone is formed by a large process for 

 muscular attachment, the great trochanter (trochanter major). It 

 is divided into two portions, one of which, the first trochanter 

 (trochanter primus), forms the large terminal, hook-like projec- 

 tion, while the other, the third trochanter (trochanter tertius), 

 is the smaller lateral crest. On the medial side of the bone, im- 



