} 
} 
THE FEMUR. 219 
inferior angle is a rough line which serves for the insertion of the gluteus medius 
muscle ; above and below this the surface of the bone is smoother and is overlain 
by burse. The anterior surface, somewhat oblong in shape, and inclined obliquely 
from below upwards and inwards, is elevated from the general aspect of the shaft 
below, from which it is separ- Heap 
ated in front by an oblique line 
leading upwards and inwards 
to the tubercle at the upper fossa ror 
end of the superior part of the! TPRPS” 
spiral line. ‘This surface serves 
for the insertion of the gluteus 
minimus. The superior border 
Pyriformis 
Obturator 
internus and 
geimelli 
Obturator 
externus 
is curved and elevated; into it Neck eres 
are inserted the tendons of the DWtiehy hones 
obturator internus and wemnelliry yet. dard pipaHe , Hy oudatatte 
muscles within and in front, and ‘ : femoris 
the pyriformis muscle above and Puoas ihidsane 
behind. The posterior border 1s Selig tes Ajeet ry 
thick and rounded,and forms the 
upper part of the posterior inter- Tineoe 
trochanteric ridge. The angle adductor magnus 
formed by the superior and SPIRAL INES 
posterior borders is sharp and tl ae 
: > : . PECTINEAL LINE 
pointed, and forms the tip of — Gluteus maximus 
Pectineus 
the trochanter overhanging the 
digital fossa, which hes imme- 
diately below and within its 
inner surface. 
The trochanter minor is an 
elevated pyramidal process 
situated at the back of the inner | 
and upper partof the shaft where | 
that becomes continuous with 
the lower and posterior part of 
the neck. Confluent above 
with the posterior intertro- f 
chanteric ridge, it gradually Fia. 162.—Back View or Upper Enp or RicHT FEMUR. 
fades away into the back of the 
shaft below. ‘The combined tendon of the ilio-psoas is inserted into this process 
and the bone immediately below it. 
The shaft (corpus femoris), which is characterised by its great length, is eylin- 
drical in form. As viewed from the front, it is straight or but slightly curved; as 
seen in profile, it is bent forwards, the curve being most pronounced in its upper 
part. The shaft is thinnest at some little distance above its middle; below this it 
gradually increases in width to support the condyles inferiorly ; its antero- posterior 
diameter, however, is not much increased below. Its surfaces are generally smooth 
and rounded, except behind, where, running longitudinally down the centre of its 
curved posterior aspect, there i is a rough- lipped ridge, the linea aspera (linea aspera). 
Most salient towards the middle of the shaft, the linea aspera consists of an inner 
lip (abium mediale) and an outer lip (labium laterale), with a narrow intervening 
rough surface. Above, about 2 to 24 inches from the trochanter minor, the linea 
aspera is formed by the convergence of three lines. Of these the outer is a rough, 
somewhat élevated, ridge, which commences above, on the back of the shaft, external 
to and on a level with the trochanter minor, and becomes continuous below with 
the outer lip of the linea aspera. This serves for the bony insertion of the gluteus 
maximus, and is occasionally developed into an outstanding process called the 
trochanter tertius. Internally the inner lip of the linea aspera is confluent above 
With a line which winds round the shaft upwards and forwards in front of the 
trochanter minor to become continuous with the rough ridge which serves to define 
= py GLUTEAL GE 
Vastus internus PEROEMOE NE IEEE 
Adductor brevis 
-ARTERIAL FORAMEN 
—INEA ASPERA 
