Femur
The femur is the longest, strongest, and heaviest bone in the human body. Located in the thigh, it extends from the hip to the knee and supports the weight of the body during standing and locomotion.
Key Features
Articulations
- •Hip joint (head with acetabulum) - ball and socket
- •Knee joint (condyles with tibia) - hinge/modified hinge
- •Patellofemoral joint (patellar surface with patella)
Muscle Attachments
Clinical Relevance
Femoral neck fractures are common in elderly with osteoporosis and can compromise blood supply to femoral head (avascular necrosis). Hip replacement surgery replaces the head and acetabulum. The femoral artery lies anterior to the hip joint.
Femur FAQs
Common questions about this bone
The femur is designed to support body weight and withstand forces up to 30 times body weight during activities like running. Its tubular shape and thick cortical bone provide maximum strength with minimum weight.
A femoral neck fracture occurs between the femoral head and trochanters. It is common in elderly patients with osteoporosis after falls and can disrupt blood supply to the femoral head, potentially causing avascular necrosis.
Numerous muscles attach to the femur including gluteal muscles (greater trochanter), iliopsoas (lesser trochanter), quadriceps (shaft and condyles), adductors (linea aspera), and gastrocnemius (condyles).
The linea aspera is a prominent ridge on the posterior femur that serves as an attachment site for many thigh muscles including the adductors, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, and short head of biceps femoris.