245 



tor internus and Gemelli. The 

 superior border is free; it is thick 

 and irregular, and marked near 

 the center by an impression for 

 the insertion of the Piriformis. 

 The inferior border corresponds 

 to the line of junction of the 

 base of the trochanter with the 

 lateral surface of the body; it is 

 marked by a rough, prominent, 

 slightly curved ridge, which gives 

 origin to the upper part of the 

 Vastus lateralis. The anterior 

 border is prominent and some- 

 what irregular; it affords inser- 

 tion at its lateral part to the 

 Glutseus minimus. The posterior 

 border is very prominent and 

 appears as a free, rounded edge, 

 which bounds the back part of 

 the trochanteric fossa. 



The Lesser Trochanter (tro- 

 chanter minor; small trochanter) 

 is a conical eminence, which 

 varies in size in different sub- 

 jects; it projects from the lower 

 and back part of the base of the 

 neck. From its apex three well- 

 irarked borders extend; two of 

 these are above a medial con- 

 tinuous with the lower border 

 o :' the neck, a lateral with the 

 intertrochanteric crest; the in- 

 ferior border is continuous with 

 the middle division of the linea 

 aspera. The summit of the tro- 

 cianter is rough, and gives in- 

 sertion to the tendon of the 

 Psoas major. 



A prominence, of variable size, 

 occurs at the junction of the 

 upper part of the neck with the 

 greater trochanter, and is called 

 tie tubercle of the femur; it is 

 the point of meeting of five 

 muscles: the Glutens minimus 

 laterally, the Vastus lateralis 

 below, and the tendon of the 

 Obturator internus and two 

 Gemelli above. Running ob- 

 liquely downward and medial- 

 ward from the tubercle is the 

 intertrochanteric line (spiral line 

 of the femur) ; it winds around 

 the medial side of the body of 

 the bone, below the lesser tro- 



Articular 

 capsule 



Lateral 

 epicondyle 



Groove for 

 tendon of 

 PopUteus 



Articular 

 capsule 

 Fia. 245. Right femur. 



Posterior surface. 



