THE FEMUR, OR THIGH-BONE. 



287 



xiil>i'iii-n<Jifli~n' line). The inner 

 one (internal supracondylar line) 

 is less marked, especially at its 

 upper part, where it is crossed 

 b the femoral arter. It ter- 



ATOR EXTERNUS. 



minates. below, 

 of the internal 

 small tubercle, 

 l,'. which 



at the summit 

 condyle, in a 

 the AiJihirf,,/- 

 affords attach- 

 ment to the tendon of the Ad- 

 ductor magnus. 



To the inner lip of the linea 

 aspera and its inner prolongation 

 above and below is attached the 

 Yastus intern us, and to the outer 

 lip and its outer prolongation 

 above is attached the Vastus 

 externus. The Adductor magnus 

 is attached to the linea aspera, to 

 its outer prolongation above and 

 its inner prolongation below. 

 Between the Vastus externus and 

 the Adductor magnus are 

 attached two muscles viz. the 

 Gluteus maximus above, and the 

 short head of the Biceps below. 

 Between the Adductor magnus 

 and the Yastus interims four 

 muscles are attached : the Iliacus 

 and Pectineus above (the latter 

 to the middle of the upper divis- 

 ions) ; below these, the Adductor 

 brevis and Adductor longus. The 

 linea aspera is perforated a little 

 below its centre by the nutrient 

 canal, which is directed obliquely 

 upward. 



The tiro literal borders of the 

 femur are only slightly marked, 

 the outer one extending from 

 the anterior inferior angle of the 

 great trochanter to the anterior 

 extremity of the external 

 condyle ; the inner one from the 

 spiral line, at a point opposite 

 the trochanter minor, to the an- 

 terior extremity of the internal 

 condyle. The internal border 

 marks the limit of attachment 

 of the Crureus muscle internally. 



The anterior surface includes 

 that portion of the shaft which 

 is situated between the two 

 lateral borders. It is smooth, 

 convex, broader above and below 

 than in the centre, 'slightly 

 twisted so that its upper part is 



Groove for tendon of 



POPLITUS. 



FIG. 214. Right femur. Posterior surface. 



