Femur

About the Femur

The femur, or thigh bone, is the longest, heaviest, and strongest bone in the human body. Its rounded head fits into the acetabulum of the pelvis to form the hip joint, and it is connected to the shaft by the femoral neck, which is angled to position the leg under the body. Near the top are two prominent bumps, the greater and lesser trochanters, where powerful hip muscles attach. The long shaft is slightly bowed and reinforced along its back by a ridge called the linea aspera. At its lower end, two large rounded condyles articulate with the tibia and with the patella to form the knee joint. Its length is often used to estimate height in archaeology and forensic science. Fractures of the femoral neck, commonly called hip fractures, are a major cause of disability in older adults with osteoporosis, while fractures of the shaft usually require high energy trauma. The blood supply to the femoral head is vulnerable, and its disruption can cause avascular necrosis.