Femur bone anatomy

Synonyms: Femoral bone, Thigh bone , The femur bone is the strongest and longest bone in the body, occupying the space of The femur begins to develop between the 5th to 6th gestational week by way of endochondral ossification (where a bone is formed using a cartilage-based foundation). While several ossification centers (points of bone development) appear throughout intrauterine life, the bone continues to develop through childhood and early adolescence. Ossification of the femur is completed between the 14th and 18th years of life. Key facts about the femur Landmarks Proximal end - head, neck, greater trochanter, lesser trochanter, intertrochanteric crest Shaft - Borders: lateral and medial; Surfaces: anterior, medial, lateral; Ridges: lateral ridge (gluteal tuberosity), pectineal line, spiral line (these three lines converge and form the linea aspera) Distal end - lateral and medial condyles, intercondylar fossa, lateral and medial epicondyles Joints Hip: femoral head with the acetabulum of the pelvis Knee: lateral and medial condyles of the femur with the tibial plateaus of the tibia (tibiofemoral joint); Patellar surface of the femur with the posterior surface of the patella (patellofemoral joint) Blood supply Trochanteric anastomosis, cruciate anastomosis Disorders of the femur Neck of femur fractures, slipped capital femoral epiphysis, femoroacetabular impingement This article will review the gross Landmarks Proximal end The proximal end of the femur includes ...

Important features of this bone include the head, medial and lateral condyles, patellar surface, medial and lateral epicondyles, and greater and lesser trochanters. The head is where the bone forms the hip joint with the innominate bone. The condyles are the points of articulation (connection) with the tibia, which is a lower leg bone. The patellar surface is the groove where the bone adjoins with the patella, or kneecap. The epicondyles and trochanters are all important attachment sites for various muscles. The human femur can resist forces of 1,800 to 2,500 pounds, so it is not easily fractured. A break in this bone can only result from a large amount of force, such as a car accident or a fall from an extreme height. Such an injury can take three to six months to heal. Last medically reviewed on January 20, 2018

How Broken Bones Heal video Your thighbone (femur) is the longest and strongest bone in your body. Because the femur is so strong, it usually takes a lot of force to break it. Motor vehicle collisions, for example, are the number one cause of femur fractures. The long, straight part of the femur is called the femoral shaft. When there is a break anywhere along this length of bone, it is called a femoral shaft fracture. This type of broken leg almost always requires surgery to heal. Femur fractures vary greatly, depending on the force that causes the break. The pieces of bone may line up correctly (stable fracture) or be out of alignment (displaced fracture). The skin around the fracture may be intact (closed fracture) or the bone may puncture the skin (open fracture). Doctors describe fractures to each other using classification systems. Femur fractures are classified depending on: • The location of the fracture (the femoral shaft is divided into thirds: distal, middle, proximal) • The pattern of the fracture (for example, the bone can break in different directions, such as crosswise, lengthwise, or in the middle) • Whether the skin and muscle over the bone is torn by the injury The most common types of femoral shaft fractures include: Transverse fracture. In this type of fracture, the break is a straight horizontal line going across the femoral shaft. Oblique fracture. This type of fracture has an angled line across the shaft. Spiral fracture. The fracture line encircles ...

What is the Femur The femur, commonly known as the thigh bone or thighbone, is the longest, strongest, and heaviest bone in the human body. The name of the bone is derived from the Latin word ‘ femur‘, meaning ‘thigh’. It is the only bone present in the thigh region, extending from the hip to the knee. This is the bone that supports all of the body’s weight while standing or doing other activities like running, walking, or jumping. Where is the Femur Located As mentioned, the femur is located in the thigh region of the leg, between the hip bone of the pelvic girdle and the knee bone, the patella. Quick Facts Type Length Approximately 17-18 inches How many are there in the human body 2 (1 in each leg) Articulates with i) Hip bone ii) Patella or knee bone Functions • Support all of the body’s weight during various activities, such as running, jumping, walking, or even standing. • Provide stability in gait by balancing and coordinating the muscles. Anatomy – Parts and Landmarks of a Femur The femur is a long bone with two ends: proximal and distal. The end, which lies on the side of the hip, is called the proximal femur, and another on the side of the knee is referred to as the distal femur. The region between these two ends is called the shaft. FemurBoneLabeledDiagram 1. Proximal Femur This region consists of a head and neck and two bony processes – the greater and lesser trochanters. Also, two bony ridges connect the two trochanters – intertrochanteric line and intertrochan...

A broken femur is a serious injury that requires immediate medical care. Broken femurs are treated with surgery and physical therapy. It can take months for your broken femur to heal. You can break your femur by being in a car crash, falling or being shot. Elderly people who are prone to injuries from falls can break their femurs. Overview What is a femur and what happens when it breaks? Your femur — the leg bone between your hip and knee — is the longest, heaviest and strongest bone in your body. It takes tremendous force to break your femur. If you break your femur, you will need immediate medical help. Your broken femur can take months to heal. Who is likely to break their femur? Most people break their femur because they were in a car crash, they fell or they were shot. People age 65 and older have an increased risk for breaking bones, including their femurs, after falling down while standing. Why is a broken femur a serious injury? If you break your femur, you might: • Lose blood if your fracture pierces your skin. You may lose more blood if your fracture pierces your skin than if it doesn’t pierce your skin. • Go into shock. • Break your hip if you break the upper part of your femur. (This is a common problem for people with • Damage your knee if you break the part of your femur just above your knee. (This is a common problem for people with osteoporosis or people who have knee replacements.) How painful is a broken femur? Broken femurs can be very painful. Your heal...