214 SKELETON. 



jecting from the internal face of the bone between the trochan- 

 ters, is directed inwards and upwards at an angle of about thirty- 

 five degrees, but varying in different subjects. The neck is two 

 inches in length, oval, or resembling a flattened cylinder, the 

 greater diameter of which is vertical ; and arises by an exten- 

 sive base along the upper end of the os femoris. It has a great 

 multitude of foramina dispersed over it, which penetrate to its 

 interior, and give passage to blood vessels; the largest of them 

 are on its posterior surface. Some of these foramina are also 

 occupied by fibres. A superficial horizontal fossa, formed by 

 the tendon of the obturator externus, may be seen crossing the 

 posterior face of the base of the neck. 



The great trochanter is situated at the superior part of the 

 base of the neck, and though presenting a well marked, elevated 

 summit, rising straight upwards, does not reach the altitude of 

 the head, but falls short of it half an inch. The trochanter 

 major rests upon a broad base, has its surface much diversified, 

 is somewhat prominent in front and externally; but presents on 

 the side which is next to the head of the bone a deep rough con- 

 cavity, which is occupied by the insertion of the small rotatory 

 muscles on the back of the pelvis. On its summit is a small 

 smooth spot, marked by the insertion of the pyriformis muscle; 

 below this, and also externally, is a broad surface, slightly con- 

 vex, into which the gluteus medius is inserted; below this, again, 

 is a second prominent and rounded surface, over which a part 

 of the tendon of the gluteus magnus plays. On the front of 

 the trochanter, and just in advance of the insertion of the glu- 

 teus medius, is an oblong surface, proceeding obliquely down- 

 wards and outwards, into which is inserted the gluteus mini- 

 mus. 



The trochanter minor is much smaller than the other, and is 

 a conical process, placed on the internal posterior face of the 

 bone, at the lower end of the root of the neck. It receives the 

 common tendon of the iliacus internus and psoas magnus mus- 

 cles. A broad elevated ridge joins the two trochanters on the 

 posterior face of the bone, and from its middle half arises the 

 quadratus femoris muscle. A much smaller ridge, and by no 



