.97 



Fig. 42. 



side of the internal condyle is rough and concave, for the attach- 

 ment of the posterior crucial ligament. 



Development. By five centres ; one for 

 the shaft, one for each extremity, and one 

 for each trochanter. The femur is the first 

 of the long bones to shew signs of ossifica- 

 tion. In it, ossific matter is found imme- 

 diately after the maxilla? before the termi- 

 nation of the second month of embryonic 

 life. The secondary deposits take place in 

 the following order, in the condyloid extre- 

 mity during the last month of foetal life f ; 

 in the head towards the end of the first 

 year ; in the greater trochanter between 

 the third and the fourth year ; in the lesser 

 trochanter between the thirteenth and 

 fourteenth. The epiphyses and apophyses 

 are joined to the diaphysis in the reverse 

 order of their appearance, the junction 

 commencing after puberty and not being 

 completed for the condyloid epiphysis until 

 after the twentieth year. 



Articulations. With three bones ; with 

 the os innominatum, tibia, and patella. 



Attachment of Muscles. To twenty-three ; 

 by the greater trochanter, to the gluteus me- 

 dius and minimus, pyriformis, gemellus su- 

 perior, obturator internus, gemellus inferior, 

 obturator externus, and quadratus femoris ; 

 by the lesser trochanter, to the common ten- 

 don of the psoas and iliacus. By the linea 

 aspera, its outer lip, to the vastus externus, 

 gluteus maximus, and short head of the bi- 

 ceps ; by its inner lip, to the vastus inter- 

 nus, pectineus, adductor brevis, and adduc- 

 tor longus ; by its middle to the adductor 

 magnus ; by the anterior part of the bone, 

 to the crurceus and subcrurseus ; by its con- 

 dyles, to the gastrocnemius, plantaris, and popliteus. 



* A diagram of the posterior aspect of the right femur, shewing the lines of 

 attachment of the muscles. The muscles attached to the inner lip are, />, the 

 pectineus ; a b, the adductor brevis ; and a I, the adductor longus. The middle 

 portion is occupied for its whole extent by a m, the adductor magnus ; and is 

 continuous superiorly with q f, the linea quadrati, into which the quadratus 

 femoris is inserted. The outer lip is occupied by g m, the gluteus maximus ; 

 and 6, the short head of the biceps. 



f Cruveilheir remarks that this centre is so constant in the last fortnight of 

 foetal life, that it may be regarded as an important proof of the foetus having 

 reached its full term. 



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