Femur and Patella

Femur

The largest bone in the lower limb

Femur

Longest, heaviest, and strongest bone in the body

Femur

Bone that extends from the hip to the knee

Long Bone

Classification of Femur Bone

Head of the Femur

Upper expanded rounded end that articulates with the acetabulum to form the hip joint. Not palpable

The pit of the femoral head (fovea) *

A small but definite hole at the center of the head of the femur.

Pit of the femoral head (fovea) **

The ligament of the femoral head is attached to this. **

Neck of Femur

The constricted part connecting the head to the body of the femur

Greater Trochanter

A large prominence on the lateral surface of the upper femur

Lesser Trochanter

A much smaller rounded process that extends medially at the junction of the neck and shaft

Intertrochanteric Crest

A ridge of bone that passes obliquely between the trochanters on the posterior margin

Intertrochanteric Line

A ridge that extends obliquely between the trochanters on the anterior margin

Body (shaft) of Femur

The long cylindrical part that becomes broadened as it approaches the knee

Linea Aspera

A double bony ridge that passes longitudinally down the posterior surface of the body of the femur

Linea Aspera

It divides below into 2 ridges that are directed to the margins of the femur

Medial Condyle

Rounded knoblike process that forms the medial part of the distal end of the femur.

Medial Condyle of the femur

Its smooth surface articulates with the medial condyle of the tibia at the knee joint

Lateral Condyle

A rounded process forming the lateral part of the distal end of the femur

Lateral condyle of femur

It articulates with the lateral condyle of the tibia forming part of the knee joint

Medial Epicondyle

A large prominence on the medial surface of the lower femur just above the medial condyle

Lateral Epicondyle

A smaller rounded process on the lateral surface of the lower femur above the lateral condyle

Intercondylar Notch/Fossa

A deep notch located between the inferior and posterior parts of the femoral condyles

Adductor Tubercle

A small process on the medial surface above the medial epicondyle

Patellar Articular Surface

The smooth anterior surface of the distal part of the femur between the anterior parts of the femoral condyles

Patellar Articular Surface

It forms a joint with the patella

Popliteal Surface

The flat area on the dorsal surface of the lower femur between the divided ridges of the linea aspera

Patella

AKA Knee cap; lies anterior to the lower end of femur

Sesamoid Bone

Classification of Patella Bone

Base of Patella

The proximal slightly rounded upper border of Patella

Apex of Patella

The lower pointed end of the patella

Smaller, on posterior aspect

The facet for the medial condyle of the femur on the posterior surface of the patella is

Large, on posterior aspect

The facet for the lateral condyle of the femur on the posterior surface of the patella is

Knee joint

Formed by the medial and lateral condyles of the femur articulating with the medial and lateral condyles of the tibia, and the patellar surface of the femur articulating with the patella