Femur (Thigh Bone): Landmarks, Surfaces & Muscle Attachments | Clinical Anatomy
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Content:
00:00 Introduction & Content
00:47 Femur Anatomy
01:05 Proximal Femur
04:15 Shaft of Femur
06:26 Distal Femur Structures
07:48 Force Distribution Across Femur
08:26 Ending and Next Topic
In this video, we go through the full anatomy of the femur, dividing it into its three major regions: the proximal end, the shaft (body), and the distal end.
Structures of the Femur
Proximal End of the Femur
Head of femur (caput femoris): Spherical structure that articulates with the acetabulum of the pelvis to form the hip joint.
Fovea of the head (fovea capitis femoris): Small pit on the medial surface of the femoral head where the ligament of the head of femur attaches.
Neck of femur (collum femoris): Narrow region connecting the head to the shaft, commonly fractured in elderly individuals.
Greater trochanter (trochanter major): Large lateral projection providing insertion for gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, piriformis, superior gemellus, inferior gemellus, and obturator internus.
Trochanteric fossa (fossa trochanterica): Depression on the medial side of the greater trochanter where obturator externus inserts.
Lesser trochanter (trochanter minor): Posteromedial projection for insertion of the iliopsoas muscle.
Intertrochanteric line (linea intertrochanterica): Anterior ridge running between the greater and lesser trochanters; attachment site for the iliofemoral ligament and origin of vastus medialis and vastus lateralis.
Intertrochanteric crest (crista intertrochanterica): Posterior ridge connecting the trochanters; contains the quadrate tubercle.
Quadrate tubercle (tuberculum quadratum): Site of insertion for quadratus femoris muscle.
Shaft of the Femur (Corpus femoris)
Pectineal line (linea pectinea): Ridge on the posterior surface for insertion of pectineus muscle.
Gluteal tuberosity (tuberositas glutea): Posterior surface ridge for insertion of gluteus maximus.
Linea aspera (linea aspera): Prominent ridge running down the posterior shaft; composed of medial and lateral lips and an intermediate zone.
Medial lip (labium mediale): Site for origin of vastus medialis, adductor longus, adductor brevis, and insertion of adductor magnus.
Lateral lip (labium laterale): Site for origin of vastus lateralis, short head of biceps femoris, and lateral intermuscular septum.
Intermediate zone (zona intermedia): Central part of linea aspera.
Medial supracondylar line (linea supracondylaris medialis): Continuation of medial lip; attachment for adductor magnus.
Lateral supracondylar line (linea supracondylaris lateralis): Continuation of lateral lip; origin of plantaris muscle.
Anterior surface (facies anterior): Located between medial and lateral borders; origin of vastus intermedius.
Posterior surface (facies posterior): Upper back surface of the shaft.
Popliteal surface (facies poplitea): Triangular area on the posterior surface near the distal end.
Medial surface (facies medialis): Located between anterior and medial borders.
Lateral surface (facies lateralis): Located between anterior and lateral borders.
Medial border (margo medialis): Separates medial and anterior surfaces.
Lateral border (margo lateralis): Separates lateral and anterior surfaces.
Distal End of the Femur
Medial condyle (condylus medialis): Large, rounded medial projection for articulation with tibia.
Lateral condyle (condylus lateralis): Large, rounded lateral projection also articulating with tibia.
Medial epicondyle (epicondylus medialis): Prominence above the medial condyle; attachment site for tibial collateral ligament.
Adductor tubercle (tuberculum adductorium): Located on medial epicondyle; insertion site for adductor magnus.
Lateral epicondyle (epicondylus lateralis): Prominence above the lateral condyle; attachment site for fibular collateral ligament.
Groove for popliteus (sulcus musculi poplitei): Small groove on lateral condyle for popliteus muscle tendon.
Intercondylar fossa (fossa intercondylaris)
Intercondylar line (linea intercondylaris)
Patellar surface (facies patellaris)
Clinical Notes
Femoral neck fractures: Common in older adults, especially postmenopausal women; can compromise blood supply.
Supracondylar fractures: Common in pediatric populations; can damage neurovascular structures.
Hip flexor injuries: Involving the lesser trochanter and iliopsoas tendon.
Sources:
Kozlowski, T. (2017). Memorix Anatomy, 2nd ed.
Standring, S. (2020). Gray’s Anatomy, 42nd edition
White TD, Folkens PA. (2005). The Human Bone Manual
Programs used: Complete Anatomy (3D4Medical), PowerPoint, Canva, Camtasia