THE FEMUR 



239 



HEAD 



of the iliac portion of the ilio-pectineal line, which serves in the adult to separate sharply the 

 pelvis major from the pelvis minor. This part of the bone is remarkably strong, as will be shown 



(see Architecture, Appendix A), and serves to 

 transmit the body weight from the sacrum to 

 the thigh bone. The sexual differences of the 

 pelvis, so far as they refer to the general con- 

 figuration of this part of the skeleton, are as 

 pronounced at the third or fourth month of 

 foetal life as they are in the adult. (Fehling, 

 Ztschr. f. Geburtsh. u. GynaeJc. Bd. ix. and x. ; 

 A Thomson, Journ. Anat. and Physiol vol. 

 xxxiii. p. 359.) The rougher appearance of 

 the male type is correlated with the more 

 powerful muscular development. 



The Femur. 



The femur or thigh bone is remark- 

 able for its length, being the longest 



OBTURATOR INTBRNUS 

 PIRIFORMIS / 



VASTUS MEDIALIS 



LATERAL EPICONDYLE 



LATERAL CONDYLE PATELLAR MEDIAL CONDYLE 

 SURFACE 



FIG. 226. THE RIGHT FEMUR SEEN FROM THE FRONT. 



medially, and slightly forwards. 



FIG. 237. ANTERIOR ASPECT OF PROXIMAL POR- 

 TION OF THE RIGHT FEMUR WITH ATTACHMENTS 

 OF MUSCLES MAPPED OUT. 



bone in the body. Proximally the femora 

 are separated by the width of the pelvis. 

 Distally they articulate with the tibiae 

 and patellae. In the military position 

 of attention, with the knees close to- 

 gether, the bodies of the thigh bones 

 occupy an oblique position. 



For descriptive purposes the bone is 

 divided into a proximal extremity, com- 

 prising the head, neck, 

 and two trochanters ; a 

 body; and a distal ex- 

 tremity, forming the ex- 

 pansions known as the 

 condyles. 



The cap ut femoris 

 (head) is the hemi- 

 spherical articular sur- 

 face which fits into the 

 acetabulum. Its pole 

 is directed upwards, 

 A little below the summit, and usually somewhat 



ADDUCTOR 

 TUBERCLE 



