106 



Anatomy of the Rabbit. 



with its various processes, slightly upward in association with the pelvis. 

 In considering the general form, it will be remembered that in the natural 

 sitting posture of the rabbit, the position of the femur is approxi- 

 mately 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 extremity by a con- 

 stricted area or neck (collum femoris), so that, unlike the case of the 

 anterior limb, the points of muscle attachment 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 termi- 

 nal, hook-like projection, while the other, 

 the third trochanter (trochanter tertius), is 

 the smaller lateral crest. On the medial 

 side of the bone, immediately distal to the 

 head, there is a triangular elevation, the 

 lesser, or second trochanter (trochanter 

 minor s. secundus). Posteriorly, these pro- 

 jections form a smooth surface for muscle 

 attachment, except, however, at the base 

 of the trochanter major, where the surface 

 of the bone presents a deep, though narrow, 

 depression, the trochanteric fossa (fossa 

 trochanterica). 



The distal extremity bears an extensive 

 surface for articulation with the tibia. It 

 is divided into two portions, known as the 

 medial and lateral condyles, through the 

 presence of a deep excavation, the inter- 

 condyloid fossa (fossa intercondyloidea). 

 Immediately above the condyles, on the 

 anterior surface of the bone, the inter- 

 condyloid fossa is replaced by a broad 

 groove, the patellar surface (facies patel- 

 laris), which, in the natural condition, 

 accommodates the convex internal surface 

 of the patella. The medial and lateral 

 portions of the bone, intervening between 

 the distal portion of the patellar surface 

 and the tips of the condyles, provide 

 slightly elevated, roughened surfaces, the 

 medial and lateral epicondyles, for muscular 

 attachment. 



etn- 



c ?u 



Fig. 41. Anterior surface of the left 

 femur; c.l. and cm., lateral and 

 medial condyles; cl.f., neck of femur; 

 cpf., articular portion (head); e.l. 

 and e.m., lateral and medial epicon- 

 dyles; f.p., patellar surface; t.mi., 

 trochanter minor; t.mj., trochanter 

 maior. including t.p. and t.t., the first 

 and third trochanters. 



