General information
The thigh is the upper part of the leg between hip and knee, or between buttocks and lower leg. It has a strongly developed musculature, which serves mainly for locomotion and statics. The extent of movement in the hip and knee joint, however, is much less pronounced than on the upper arm.
Thigh bone (femur)
The thigh bone (femur) is the longest tubular bone in the human body. The two epicondyles are connected to the corpus femoris at the sides (epicondylus lateralis) and in the middle (epicondylus medialis). Inside the head there is a small ligament called Ligamentum capitis femoris.
This ligament contains a small vessel which is responsible for supplying the head of the femur. This ligament therefore plays a decisive role, especially in the growth phase. In adulthood, this importance decreases.
The neck part (collum femoris) is connected to the femoral head distally (away from the body). Then follows the body part of the bone (corpus femoris). This is elongated and is reinforced at its back by the linea aspera.
This linea aspera consists of a bone which serves as the origin and attachment of numerous muscles. There are two bony protrusions at the border between the neck of the femur and the body of the femur. Between them runs the Linea intertrochanterica.
These bone structures also serve as the origin and attachment for various muscles. Further away from the body (distally), the femur widens to form two further large bony projections, the anterior side of which has an articular surface, which is called the facies patellaris in the central region and represents the connection to the patella. These two condyles each have an elevation, which is called the medial and lateral epicondylus. The collateral ligaments of the knee joint are attached to these condyles.
- Head part (caput femoris), a
- Neck part (Collum femoris) and a
- Body (Corpus femoris).
- The head part (caput femrois) represents the epiphysis,
- Collum and corpus are the diaphysis.
- The femoral head (caput femoris) is covered with cartilage and articulates with the acetabulum, thus forming the hip joint.
- Medials (Labium mediale) and a
- Lateral (labium lateral) portions, which diverge at the two ends of the bone (cranial and caudal).
- The greater trochanter major and
- The small trochanter minor.
- Condylus medialis (towards the middle) and
- Condylus lateralis (lateral).
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