OSTEOLOGY AND SYNDESMOLOGY. 37 



walls, concave posteriorly from above downwards, concave anteriorly in the 

 transverse direction, and on either side nearly plane. 



The female pelvis {pi. 123, fig. -lö) diifers from that of the male {fig. 43) 

 in several particulars : it is wider and larger, but not so deep ; the alse of 

 the ilium are more expanded, the prominence of the sacrum is less, the 

 inlet and outlet are rounder and wider, the sacrum is broader and more 

 concave, the pubic arch more round and open, the symphysis pubis not so 

 deep, the obturator holes are smaller and more triangular, the sciatic tuber- 

 osities are directed more outwards, and the acetabula are more distant from 

 each other; all the bones are more thin and delicate. The male pelvis is 

 deeper, narrower, and the bones more solid and strong. The peculiarities 

 in the female 2:)elvis are intimately connected with the functions of jDar- 

 turition. 



2. The Thigh. This is constituted by but one bone, i\\e femur {jyl. 122, 

 fig. 3 l). This is the longest and strongest bone in the skeleton, and i.s 

 proportionally longer in man than in any other animal ; from the pelvis it 

 is directed obliquely downwards and inwards, this obliquity being greater 

 in the female than in the male. It consists of the body or shaft, and two 

 extremities. 



The bodi/ is slightly twisted, very broad below, and with a rough project- 

 ing ridge down the posterior face called the linea aspera {fig. 4"). This 

 divides into two ridges at either end, and above its middle may be seen one 

 or two holes entering obliquely upwards for transmitting the nutritive ves- 

 sels (jf the bone. 



The upper or pelvic extremity of the femur presents three eminences, the 

 head for articulating with the cotyloid cavity, and the trochanters for the 

 insertion of muscles. 



The head {figs. 3 '', 24) is of a globular figure, and forms a considerable 

 segment of a sphere ; it is directed upwards, inwards, and a little forwards ; 

 a little below its centre there is a rough oval depression for the insertion of 

 the round or articular ligament. Excepting this depression, the head is 

 covered throughout with cartilage ; it is supported by a strong elongated 

 process of a pyramidal form, the neck {fig. 24), which forms an angle more 

 or less obtuse with the shaft of the bone. A rough irregular line separates 

 the head from the neck, beyond which the articular cartilage of the foramen 

 does not extend. The great trochanter {fig. 3'^) is continuous with the ex- 

 ternal side of the shaft, and nearly in a line with its axis. It is thick, 

 rough, and square ; broad and convex externally. Internally it presents u 

 pit, or digital cavity, which receives the tendons of the external rotators 

 of the limb. The lesser trochanter {fig. 3^') is a conical tubercle at the poste- 

 rior and inner side of the shaft, much below the level of the great trochanter 

 and of the base of the neck. 



The inferior or tibial end of the femur {fig. 25) is very large and broad, 

 flattened before and behind, and divided into two eminences or co)i- 

 dyles^ which are separated posteriorly by a deep notch. The condyles 

 articulate with the tibia. The external {figs. 3", 4") is larger, and pro- 

 jects more forward than the internal ; its articulating surface also is 



743 



