THE FEMUR. 217 
of the iliac portion of the ilio-pectineal line, which serves in the adult to separate sharply the 
false from the true pelvis. This part of the bone is remarkably strong, as has been shown (see 
Wasea eon Architecture), and serves to transmit the body 
HEAP IG, TERES weight from the sacrum to the thigh bone. The 
sexual differences of the pelvis, so far as they 
‘ refer to the general configuration of this part of 
Obturator internus < the skeleton, are as pronounced at the third or 
Pyriformis 274d gemelli_ fourth month of foetal life as they are in the 
. = 4 J adult (Fehling, Ztschr. f. Geburtsh. uv. Gynaek., 
Bd. ix. and x.; A. Thomson, Journ. Anat. and 
Physiol., vol. xxxiii. p. 359). The rougher appear- 
v 
Gluteus 
ininimus 
GREAT ~NECK ance of the male type is correlated with the 
"TROCHANTER x 4 
« more powerful muscular development. 
~~TUBERCLE 
Vastus Vastus 
externus internus ee : 
SMALL THE FEMUR. 
SPIRAL LINE TROCHANTER 
a seca The femur or thigh bone is remark- 
fies able for its length, being the longest bone 
in the body. Superiorly the femora are 
separated by the width of the pelvis. 
Inferiorly they articulate with the tibie 
and patelle. In the military position of 
attention, with the knees close together, 
the shafts of the thigh bones occupy an 
oblique position. For descriptive purposes 
the bone is divided into an upper ex- 
tremity, comprising the head, neck, and 
two trochanters; a shaft; and a lower 
extremity, forming the expansions known 
as the condyles. 
The head (caput femoris) is the hem1- 
spherical articular surface which, when 
coated with cartilage, fits into the acetab- 
ular hollow. Its pole is directed upwards 
and inwards and slightly forwards. <A 
little below the summit, and usually 
somewhat behind it, is a hollow oval 
pit (fovea capitis femoris) for the attach- 
ment of the ligamentum teres. The cir- 
cumference of the head forms a lip with 
a wavy outline, more prominent above 
and behind than in front. The head is 
supported by a stout compressed bar of 
bone, the neck (collum femoris), which 
forms with the upper end of the shaft an 
angle of about 125 degrees, and is directed 
upwards, inwards, and a little forwards. 
Its vertical width exceeds its antero- 
posterior thickness. 
Avpvorok — Constricted about its 
Adauctor middle, it expands in- 
Gs a ternally to support the 
MW) ivrrrwar, head, whilst externally, 
Tuserosity where it joins the shaft, 
its vertical diameter is 
much increased. An- 
—— teriorly it is clearly: 
Ivrernat conpyte defined from the shatt 
by a rough ridge which 
commences above on a 
prominence, sometimes called the tubercle of the femur, and passes obliquely down- 
Crureus 
Subcrureus 
EXTERNAL TUBEROSITY 
Popliteus 
EXTERNAL CONDYLE PATELLAR 
SURFACE 
Fic. 160.—RiagHt FEMUR AS SEEN FROM THE FRONT. 
4 
