328 



THE THIGH AND I. EC. 



aspect. In nearly all Mammals there is a rounded depres- 

 sion near the middle of the surface of the head into which 

 the Hgamentum feres of the hip-joint is inserted. Both 

 ligament and depression are, however, wanting in the (Drang 

 Utan, Seals, the Sea-Otter, Elephant, 

 Sloths, Wombat, and the Monotremata. 

 Immediately below the neck of the 

 femur are two tuberosities, called tro- 

 chanters. One (//) is a comparatively 

 small, conical eminence, situated rather 

 to the pre-axial side, and called the 

 lesser or inner trochanter. The other 

 (gf) is generally very prominent, pro- 

 jecting upwards, as high or higher than, 

 the top of the head, situated mainly 

 on the post-axial border of the bone, 

 but curving inwards and backwards at 

 its extremity; this is called the great 

 or outer trochanter. To the posterior 

 side of its base there is usually a deep 

 depression, the digital fossa. 



In some Mammals, as the Perisso- 

 dactyle Ungulates, some Rodents and 

 Edentates, there is a compressed ridge 

 for attachment of the great gluteal 

 muscle on the post axial side of the 

 shaft, a short distance below the great 

 trochanter, distinguished as the third trochanter. (See Fig. 

 118, /', p. 333.) 



The distal extremity of the femur is thickened, and has a 

 large trochlear articular surface for the bones of the leg. 

 This surface is narrow in front, and bounded by more or less 

 prominent ridges : posteriorly it is divided by a deep median 



FIG. 117. Right human 

 femur, d >rsal or ante- 

 rior aspect, \. The 

 boundary lines of the 

 various epiphyses are 

 shown. A head ; neck ; 

 ft greater trochanter ; 

 ill lesser trochanter ; ec 

 external condyle ; ic in- 

 ternal condyle. 



