42 



FEMUR. 



LOWER EXTREMITY. 



FEMUR. 



The femur is the longest bone in the body, reaching from the 

 acetabulunn to the knee. 

 ' The superior extremity presents a spherical heady^ which has a de- 

 pression upon it for the ligamentum teres. The part between the 

 head and shaft is the neck^ which is shorter and 

 Fig. 25, more horizontal in old persons and in females. 



Externally is the trochanter major, a large 

 process having an oval mark in front for the 

 gluteus minimus ; and above a double mark for 

 the gluteus medius; the tip has the pyriformis 

 inserted into it, and behind the tip is the digital 

 fossa, into which are inserted the gemelli and ob- 

 turator muscles. Below and on the inner side is 

 the lesser trochanter, into which is inserted the 

 psoas magnus, and iliacus internus muscles. A 

 ridge between the trochanters behind, indicates 

 the insertion of the quadratus femoris, and a 

 corresponding one in front, which is less distinct, 

 serves for the connexion of the capsular ligament. 

 The inferior extremity is broader than the up- 

 per, and is divided by a fossa in front, and a 

 notch behind, into two condyles. The interrial 

 . condyle seems to be the longer f its internal and 

 posterior surfaces^* give origin to the internal 

 lateral ligament and gastrocnemius muscles ; its 

 external surface assists in forming the notch, and 

 has a roughness in front for the posterior crucial 

 ligament. 



The external condyle contributes by its internal 

 surface to form the notch, and has a roughness be- 

 hind for the anterior crucial ligament. Its external 

 and posterior surfaces give origin to popliteus, 

 plantaris, and gastrocnemius muscles, and external 

 lateral ligament. The fossa in front, is unequally divided between 

 the condyles, the larger and flatter portion belonging to the ex- 

 ternal. 



The shaft of the bone is curved anteriorly, and is covered in front 

 by the origin of cruroDus muscle. Posteriorly there is a rough 

 ridge called linea aspera (Fig. 26), which consists of two lips 

 having a tendency to separate above and below. The inner lip shows 

 the insertion of the pectineus muscle,? of the adductor brevis,*'' 



