THE FEMUR. 



107 



pelvis is more nearly circular, the sacral promontory projecting less 

 into it ; the sacrum is flatter and broader ; the depth of the symphysis 

 pubis is less, the pubic arch is much wider, and the space between the 

 tuberosities of the ischia greater. 



The average dimensions of the pelvis, as measured in a number of 

 full-sized males and females, may be stated as follow, in inches : — 



THE FEMUR. 



The femur or thigh bone, the largest bone of the skeleton, is situated 

 between the os innominatum and the tibia. In the erect position of 

 the body it inclines inwards and slightly backwards as it descends, so 

 as to approach inferiorly its fellow of the opposite side, and to have its 

 upper end a little in advance of the lower. It is divisible into a 

 superior extremity, including the head and neck and two eminences 

 called trochanters, the shaft, and an inferior extremity expanded into 

 an external and an internal condyle. 



At the superior exfremifi/ of the bone, the vceJc, surmounted by the 

 head, extends inwards, upwards, and slightly forwards, being set upon 

 the shaft at an angle of about 125° or 130°. The neck has a con- 

 stricted appearance, and its diameter from before backwards is less 

 than in the vertical direction, in which last greater strength is required 

 to sustain the weight of the body. It is shorter superiorly than 

 inferiorly, and the anterior surface is shorter than the posterior. The 

 Jiead forms more than half a sphere, and is covered with cartilage in 

 the fresh state. Behind and below its central point is a small depres- 

 sion, which gives attachment to the round ligament of the hip joint. 



The troclianter major is a thick truncated process prolonged upwards 

 in a line with the external surface of the shaft. In front it is marked 

 by the insertion of the glutens minimus ; externally an oblique line 

 directed downwards and forwards indicates the inferior border of the 

 insertion of the gluteus medius muscle, and lower down a horizontal 

 line, continued upwards in front of the trochanter, marks the upper 

 limit of the vastus externus. Internally at its base, and rather behind 

 the neck, is the trochanieric or (Ji(jiial fossa, which gives attachment to 

 the obturator and gemelli muscles. The posterior border of the great 

 trochanter is prominent, and continued into a smooth elevation, the 



