90 



FEMUR. 



tubercle upon the posterior and inner side of the bone, the trochanter 

 minor. 



The shaft of the femur is convex and rounded in front, and covered 

 with muscles ; and somewhat concave and raised into a rough and 

 prominent ridge behind, the tinea aspera. The linea aspera near 

 the upper extremity of the bone divides into three branches. The 

 anterior branch is continued forwards in front of the lesser tro- 

 chanter, and is continuous with the anterior intertrochanteric line ; 

 the middle is continued directly upwards into the linea quadrati ; 

 and the posterior, broad and strongly marked, 

 Fig. 34.* ascends to the base of the trochanter major. 

 Towards the lower extremity of the bone the linea 

 aspera divides into two ridges, which descend to 

 the two condyles, and enclose a triangular space 

 upon which rests the popliteal artery. The in- 

 ternal condyloid ridge is less marked than the 

 external, and presents a broad and shallow 

 groove, for the passage of the femoral artery. 

 The nutritious foramen is situated in or near the 

 linea aspera, at about one-third from its upper 

 extremity, and is directed obliquely from below 

 upwards. 



The lower extremity of the femur is broad and 

 porous, and divided by a smooth depression in 

 front, and by a considerable notch behind, into 

 two condyles. 



The external condyle is the broadest and most 

 projecting, and the internal the narrowest and 

 longest ; the difference in length depending upon 

 the obliquity of the femur, in consequence of the 

 separation of the two bones at their upper extre- 

 mities by the breadth of the pelvis. The external 

 condyle is marked upon its outer side by a promi- 

 nent tuberosity, which gives attachment to the 

 external lateral ligaments; and immediately 

 beneath this is the groove which lodges the ten- 

 dinous origin of the popliteus. By the internal 

 surface it gives attachment to the anterior crucial ligament of the 

 knee-joint ; and by its upper and posterior part, to the external head 

 of the gastrocnemius and to the plantaris. The internal condyle 

 projects upon its inner side into a tuberosity, to which is attached the 

 internal lateral ligament; above this tuberosity, at the extremity of the 

 internal condyloid ridge, is a tubercle, for the insertion of the tendon 



* The right femur, seen upon the anterior aspect. 1. The shaft. 2. The head. 3. 

 The neck. 4. The great trochanter. 5. The anterior intertrochanteric line. 6. The 

 lesser trochanter. 7. The external condyle. 8. The internal condyle. 9. The tube- 

 rosity for the attachment of the external lateral ligaments. 10. The groove for the 

 tendon of origin of the popliteus muscle. 11. The tuberosity for the attachment of the 

 internal lateral ligament. 



