Femur

femur

largest and heaviest bone in the body

head of the femur

founded, fits into acetabulum

fovea capitis

located on the head of the femur, the ligamentum teres attaches here for blood supply and stability

ligamentum teres

helps to stabilize the head

neck of the femur

constricted portion just below the head

greater trochanter

protuberance located inferiorly and laterally to the head; where a lot of hip rotators attach; attachment point for gluteus medius, gluteus minimums, piriformis, obturator eternus, obturator internus

lesser trochanter

smaller protuberance located inferiorly and medially to greater trochanter; where we see iliopsoas attach (a deep hip flexor); where psoas major and iliacus attach inte

intertrochanteric line

line between greater and lesser trochanters; hip joint capsule and vastus medialis attach here

linea aspera

prominent ridge running along posterior femur shaft; attachment point for vastus medialis, vatus lateralis, adductor magnus, biceps femoris, adductor longus/brevis

gluteal tuberosity

roughened region just lateral to linea aspera; attachment point for gluteus maximus

supracondylar ridges

two ridges from by division of the linea aspera at lower end, medial and lateral

condyles

large rounded bulges at the distal end of femur

epicondyles

blunt projections from sides of the condyles, one medial and one lateral, attachment point for two heads of the gastrocnemius and MCL/LCL

where does knee flexion and extension occur

in the condyles

adductor tubercle

small projection just above the medial condyle; marks the termination of the medial supracondylar ridge; attachment point for the adductor magnus

trochlear groove

smooth depression between the condyles on the anterior surface, articulates with the patella

intercondylar fossa/ notch

deep depression between the condyles on the posterior surface, the cruciate ligaments binding the femur to the tibia; where the ACL and PCL attach

patella

kneecap; largest sesamoid bone of the body embedded in the tendon of the quadriceps femoris muscle

large lateral and smaller medial facets

articulate with the trochlear groove

base of the patella

wide, superior region of patella

apex of patella

narrow, inferior region of patella; narrow line of pull from patellar tendon causing a prominent projection

patellofemoral pain syndrome

abnormal lateral tracking from iliotibial tract and lateral patellar retinaculum often results in high levels of friction between the patella and femur

chondromalacia patella

breakdown of articular cartilage