SKELETON- OF LOWER LIMB. 



181 



~-ltr 



3. The FEMUR is the longest bone of man's skeleton, and, 

 like the humerus, is more or less cylindrical, with a rounded 

 head to fit into the acetabulum above, 

 and with an expansion below with 

 two articular surfaces. 



The shaft is slightly arched for- 

 wards, is smooth in front but with 

 an elongated prominence behind, 

 termed the linea aspera, which is 

 most marked about half-way up the 

 bone. 



At the upper end of the shaft are 

 two conspicuous projections. The ex- 

 ternal one of these (projecting from 

 the outer margin of the bone, which 

 it continues upwards), is called the 

 great, or per one al r trochanter. The 

 internal projection, which is smaller, 

 more conical, and rounded, stands out 

 from the inner and hinder side of the 

 bone, and is called the lesser, or tibial 

 trochanter. 



Between the two trochanters, on 

 the hinder side of the femur, a bony 

 prominence extends, which is termed 

 the posterior inter-trochanteric ridge ; 

 and a less marked line, the anterior 

 intcr-trochanteric ridge, also connects 

 the two trochanters on the front sur- 

 face of the femur. 



On the inner and hinder side of the 

 great trochanter is a pit, termed the 

 trochanteric fossa. 



From the inter-trochanteric ridges 

 a narrower rounded portion of bone 

 projects inwards, forming an obtuse 

 angle with the shaft. This is called 

 the neck of the femur. It ends in a 

 rounded head (forming a large part 

 of a sphere) which fits into the ace- 

 tabulum. 



The femur is connected with the os innominatum by the 

 strong ligamentum teres before mentioned, the attachment of 



1 Because situate on the same iside as the peroneal bone of the leg. 



i h* 



FIG. 154. FRONT VIEW OF 

 RIGHT FEMUR OF MAN. 



cc, internal condyle , e tu, 

 external tuberosity ; g tr, 

 great trochanter ; 'h, head ; 

 zV, external condyle ; itu, 

 internal tuberosity ; Itr, 

 lesser trochanter; n, neck 

 of the femur. 



