CHAP. IV.] 



THE SKELETON. 



27 



Long bones of the lower extremity : 



Femur (thigh bone) ........... 2 



*> ............ * 



Metatarsus (sole and instep of foot) ..... 10 

 Phalanges (toes) ............ 28 



44 



The bones of the lower extremity correspond to those of the 

 upper extremity, and bear a rough resemblance to them. 



The femur is the longest, largest, and strongest bone in the 

 skeleton. In the erect position it is not vertical, being sepa- 

 rated from its fellow above by a considerable in- 

 terval, which corresponds to the entire breadth 

 of the pelvis, but inclining gradually down- 

 wards and inwards, so as to approach its fellow 

 towards its lower part, for the purpose of bring- 

 ing the knee-joint near the line of gravity of 

 the body. The degree of inclination varies in 

 different persons, and is greater in the female 

 than the male, on account of the greater breadth 

 of the pelvis. The upper extremity of the 

 femur, like that of the humerus, consists of a 

 rounded head joined to the shaft by a constricted 

 neck, and of two eminences, called the greater 

 and lesser trochanters. The head articulates 

 with the cavity in the os innominatum, called 

 the acetabulum. The lower extremity of the. 

 femur is larger than the upper, is flattened from 

 before backwards, and divided into two large 

 eminences or condyles by an intervening notch. 

 It articulates with the tibia and the patella, or 

 knee-pan. FIG. 20. THE 



The tibia is situated at the front and inner FEMUR grounded 



head; gtr, jivntrr 



side of the leg, and forms what is popularly trochanter;^, leas- 

 known as the shin bone. In the male, its direc- er trimmer; n, 



11GC1C. 



tion is vertical and parallel with the bone of the 

 opposite side ; but in the female it has a slight oblique direction 

 outwards, to compensate for the oblique direction of the femur 

 inwards. The upper extremity is large, and expanded into two 



