introduction to the thigh

The thigh is a region of the lower limb located between the hip joint superiorly and the knee joint inferiorly. It is a powerful segment of the limb that is designed primarily for weight bearing, locomotion, and postural stability. The thigh generates force responsible for walking, standing, running, and climbing.

The bone of the thigh is the femur and it's the longest, strongest and heaviest bone in the human body. It articulates the hip joint proximally and the knee joint distally

The femur is divided into :

The upper end of the femur

The lower end of the femur and

The shaft

The upper end of the femur:

Head

Spherical

It articulates with the acetabulum

Clinical correlate: facture can cause avascular necrosis due to disrupted blood supply

Neck

It articulates the head with the shaft

Inclination angle: approximately 125°

Greater trochanter

Lateral projection

Attaches sites to gluteal muscles

Lesser trochanter

Posteromedial

Insertion point for iliopsoas muscle

The shaft of the femur

The anterior surface is smooth

The posterior surface is a longitudinal ridge known as the linea aspera, it serves as attachment for:

Adduction muscle

Vastus muscle

Short head of the biceps femoris

The compartment of the thigh

The anterior compartment

The medial compartment

The posterior compartment

The anterior compartment

Responsible for extension of knee and flexion of hip

Muscles

Quadriceps femoris

Sartorius muscle

Quadriceps is divided into four:

Rectus femoris

Vastus medialis

Vastus lateralis

Vastus intermedialis

Sartorius muscles

It's the largest muscle of the human body and it abduct, flex and laterally rotates the hip in addition to flexion of the knee

Medial compartment of the thigh

Primarily responsible for hip adduction

Muscles

Adductor Longus

Adductor Magnus

Adductor brevis

Gracilis

Obturator externus

Posterior compartment of the thigh

Responsible for the extension of the hip and flexion of the knee

Muscle

Semitendinosus

Semimembranosus

Biceps femoris