THE FEMUR, OR THIGH-BONE. 187 



scends to the summit of the outer condyle. The inner one is less marked, especially 

 at its upper part, where it is crossed by the femoral artery. It terminates, below, 

 at the summit of the internal condyle, in a small tubercle, the Adductor tubercle, 

 which affords attachment to the tendon of the Adductor magnus. 



To the inner lip of the linea aspera and its inner prolongation above and 

 below is attached the Vastus internus, and to the outer lip and its outer prolonga- 

 tion 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 Vastus internus four muscles are 

 attached : the Iliacus and Pectineus above, the Adductor brevis and Adductor 

 longus below. The linea aspera is perforated a little below its centre by the 

 nutrient canal, which is directed obliquely upward. 



The two lateral 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 anterior 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 directed 

 forward and a little outward, its lower part forward and a little inward. 

 To the upper three-fourths of this surface the Crureus is attached ; the lower 

 fourth is separated from the muscle by the intervention of the synovial 

 membrane of the knee-joint and a bursa, and affords attachment to the 

 Subcrureus to a small extent. The external surface includes the portion 

 of bone between the external border and the outer lip of the linea aspera : it is 

 continuous above with the outer surface of the great trochanter, below with the 

 outer surface of the external condyle ; to its upper three-fourths is attached the 

 outer portion of the Crureus muscle. The internal surface includes the portion of 

 bone between the internal border and the inner lip of the linea aspera ; it is 

 continuous above with the lower border of the neck, below with the inner side of 

 the internal condyle : it is covered by the Vastus externus muscle. 



The Lower Extremity, larger than the upper, is of a cuboid form, flattened from 

 before backward, and divided into two large eminences, the condyles (xovoy/oc, 

 a knuckle), by an interval which presents a smooth depression in front called the 

 trochlea, and a notch of considerable size behind the intercondyloid notch. The 

 external condyle is the more prominent anteriorly, and is the broader both in the 

 antero-posterior and transverse diameters. The internal condyle is the narrower, 

 longer, and more prominent inferiorly. This difference in the length of the two 

 condyles is only observed when the bone is perpendicular, and depends upon the 

 obliquity of the thigh-bones, in consequence of their separation above at the 

 articulation with the pelvis. If the femur is held obliquely, the surfaces of the 

 two condyles will be seen to be nearly horizontal. The two condyles are directly 

 continuous in front, and form a smooth trochlear surface, which articulates with 

 the patella. It presents a median groove, which extends downward and back- 

 ward to the intercondyloid notch ; and two lateral convexities, of which the 

 external is the broader, more prominent, and prolonged farther upward upon the 

 fronf of the outer condyle. The external border of this articular surface is also 

 more prominent, and ascends higher than the internal one. The intercondyloid 

 notch lodges the crucial ligaments ; it is bounded laterally by the opposed surfaces 

 of the two condyles, and in front by the lower end of the shaft. 



Outer Condyle. The outer surface of the external condyle presents, a little 

 behind its centre, an eminence, the outer tuberosity ; it is less prominent than the 

 inner tuberosity, and gives attachment to the external lateral ligaments of the 

 knee. Immediately beneath it is a groove which commences at a depression a 



