Femur Anatomy and Hip Ligaments

Fovea Capitis

The fovea capitis is a small indentation on the head of the femur. It serves as the attachment point for the ligament of the head of the femur, which is crucial for supplying blood to the femoral head and proximal femur. Disruption of this ligament can lead to avascular necrosis of the femoral head.

Anterior Femoral Features

• Neck of the Femur: The narrow region connecting the femoral head to the shaft.
• Greater Trochanter: A prominent lateral projection. On the anterior side, the intertrochanteric line is a smaller ridge located below the greater trochanter.
• Intertrochanteric Line: A ridge on the anterior side of the femur.
• Femoral Shaft: The main body of the femur.
• Abductor Tubercle: Located on the medial side of the femur.
• Medial Epicondyle: Found on the medial side, distal to the abductor tubercle.
• Medial Femoral Condyle: Located underneath the medial epicondyle.
• Lateral Femoral Condyle.

Posterior Femoral Features

• Greater Trochanter: On the posterior side, the intertrochanteric crest is a larger ridge.
• Intertrochanteric Crest: A larger ridge on the posterior side.
• Lesser Trochanter.
• Linea Aspera: A ridge running along the middle of the posterior femur, indicating the bone's strength.

Ligaments of the Hip

The hip joint is supported by strong ligaments.

• Iliofemoral Ligament: A Y-shaped ligament that attaches to the anterior inferior iliac spine (AIIS) and the superior acetabulum. It extends down to the greater trochanter and the intertrochanteric line, restricting hip extension.
• Pubofemoral Ligament: Connects the body of the pubis to the femoral neck, restricting hip extension and abduction.
• Ischiofemoral Ligament: Connects the ischial bone behind the acetabulum.

Q Angle

The Q angle is formed by:

• A vertical line through the middle of the patella.
• A line from the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) through the middle of the patella.

The Q angle is clinically relevant, particularly in athletic therapy. A wider Q angle, common in women due to wider hips, can cause a valgus force on the knee, stressing the medial side. This can lead to knee injuries.

A wider Q angle will create a valgus force on the knee. The wider the Q angle, the more force that will come down and the more it will stress that medial side, which can cause some problems.