298 



THE THIGH AND LEG. 



[('HAP. 



ft. 



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

 the ligamcntum tei'cs of the hip joint is inserted. Both 

 ligament and depression are, however, 

 wanting in the Orang Utan, Seals, Sea- 

 Otter, Elephant, Sloths, and the Mono- 

 tremata. 



Immediately below the neck of the 

 femur are two tuberosities, called tro- 

 chanters. One (It) is a comparatively 

 small, conical eminence, situated rather 

 to the preaxial side, and called the 

 lesser trochanter. The other ( gt ) is 

 generally very prominent, projecting 

 upwards, as high or higher than the top 

 of the head, situated mainly on the 

 postaxial border of the bone, but curv- 

 ing inwards and backwards at its ex- 

 tremity j this is called the great tro- 

 chanter. To the posterior side of its 

 base there is usually a deep depres- 

 sion, the digital fossa. 



In some Mammals, as the Perisso- 

 dactyle Ungulates, some Rodents and 

 Edentates, there is a compressed ridge 

 for muscular attachments, on the post- 

 axial side of the shaft, a short distance below the great 

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

 no, /', p. 303.) 



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 

 notch (intercondylar) into two prominent rounded eminences, 



FlG. 109. — Right human 

 femur, dorsal or ante- 

 rior aspect, 7. Ihe 

 boundary lines of the 

 various epiphyses are 

 shown, h head ; n neck ; 

 gt greater trochanter ; 

 it lesser trochanter; ec 

 external condyle ; ic in- 

 ternal condyle. 



