This
is the longest and strongest bone in the skeleton, its length being associated
with the striding gait of human being appropriate to the weight and muscular
forces to which it is subjected. The head of the femur is hemisphere and its
surface is covered with hyaline articular cartilage except for a small
roughened pit for attachment for muscles and ligament.
is the longest and strongest bone in the skeleton, its length being associated
with the striding gait of human being appropriate to the weight and muscular
forces to which it is subjected. The head of the femur is hemisphere and its
surface is covered with hyaline articular cartilage except for a small
roughened pit for attachment for muscles and ligament.
Point of Insertion of the Femur
At
its insertion the tendon divides into two portions, which embrace the fibular collateral
ligament of the knee-joint. From the posterior border of the tendon a thin
expansion is given off to the fascia of the leg. The tendon of insertion of
this muscle forms the lateral hamstring; the common fibular (peroneal) nerve
descends along its medial border.
its insertion the tendon divides into two portions, which embrace the fibular collateral
ligament of the knee-joint. From the posterior border of the tendon a thin
expansion is given off to the fascia of the leg. The tendon of insertion of
this muscle forms the lateral hamstring; the common fibular (peroneal) nerve
descends along its medial border.
Point of Ossification of Femur
The
ossification commences, at the centre of the future shaft, towards the end of
the second month or earlier.
ossification commences, at the centre of the future shaft, towards the end of
the second month or earlier.
At
birth the shaft is bony and the neck is short, while the trochanters and the
extremities are in cartilage; in the lower end, however, there is usually a
small ossific centre in the depth of the cartilage, but this may not appear
till just after birth.
birth the shaft is bony and the neck is short, while the trochanters and the
extremities are in cartilage; in the lower end, however, there is usually a
small ossific centre in the depth of the cartilage, but this may not appear
till just after birth.
The
centre for the head appears in the first year, that for the great trochanter at
three, and for the small trochanter at twelve or thirteen. Fusion of the head
epiphysis with the neck, which has become longer, occurs at about eighteen, and
the trochanteric epiphyses join the shaft about the same time or a little
earlier. The bony lower end remains distinct until twenty-three or twenty-four,
when its epiphysial line ossifies.
centre for the head appears in the first year, that for the great trochanter at
three, and for the small trochanter at twelve or thirteen. Fusion of the head
epiphysis with the neck, which has become longer, occurs at about eighteen, and
the trochanteric epiphyses join the shaft about the same time or a little
earlier. The bony lower end remains distinct until twenty-three or twenty-four,
when its epiphysial line ossifies.
