Where is your femur

It is a…. The skeletal system is the foundation of your body, giving it structure and allowing for movement. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect.

Read this next. Supraspinatus Medically reviewed by the Healthline Medical Network. Quadratus plantae Medically reviewed by the Healthline Medical Network. Depressor labii inferioris Medically reviewed by the Healthline Medical Network. Quadriceps femoris Medically reviewed by the Healthline Medical Network. Palmaris brevis Medically reviewed by the Healthline Medical Network. The greater trochanter attaches to tendons that connect to the gluteus minimus and the gluteus medius muscles.

These muscles pull the leg to help with walking and running. This is known as an extension of the leg or the hip. Below the greater trochanter is the lesser trochanter, situated at the base of the neck of the femur. The lesser trochanter is the part of the femur attached to a pair of muscles that help flex the thigh lift the leg forward. Below the lesser trochanter is the gluteal tuberosity, which is where the gluteus maximus is attached. The main shaft of the femur is known as the body of the femur.

The distal end of the femur is where it connects with the patella knee cap and the bones of the lower leg, the tibia, and fibula.

The distal end of the femur has a saddle that rests on the top of the tibia. It has rounded edges on either side of the knee joint, known as the condyles.

The depression between the condyles is called the patellar groove. Inside the body of the femur is the medullary cavity, which contains bone marrow. At the ends of the femur are areas of compact bone, which is solid and does not contain marrow. Surrounding the compact bone is spongy bone, which has lots of small cavities dispersed throughout it.

The neck and head of the femur contain spongy bone. The femur is the primary bone of the leg. It supports the weight of the body on the leg and is capable of carrying 30 times the weight of the body. The femur provides the ability for articulation and leverage for the leg. Articulation allows for standing, walking, and running. The femur is the primary bone of the leg and all other leg bones are attached to the distal portion of the femur.

The medullary cavity contains red bone marrow, which is involved in the production of red blood cells. Over time, red bone marrow is replaced by yellow bone marrow, which helps to store fat. Blood flow in the femur is hard to measure. It is a significant amount, so much so that a needle inserted into the spongy bone can be used to infuse enough fluid into the bloodstream to offset shock or dehydration.

Fractures are the most common condition of the femur. It takes a lot of force to break a femur, although certain areas of the femur are more susceptible. Welcome to the Visible Body Blog! The femur is the longest bone in the body.

Did you know? Long bones are only one of the five types of bones found in the human body! We've also got short, sesamoid, flat, and irregular bones. The femur is a weight-bearing bone. The greater trochanter provides leverage for gluteal muscles and other muscles that rotate the thigh.

The medial femoral condyle bears more weight due to the center of gravity being medial to the knee. The rounded shape of the head allows the femur to move in almost any direction at the hip, including circumduction as well as rotation around its axis. Just distal from the head, the femur narrows considerably to form the neck of the femur. The neck of the femur extends laterally and distally from the head to provide extra room for the leg to move at the hip joint, but the thinness of the neck provides a region that is susceptible to fractures.

At the end of the neck, the femur turns about 45 degrees and continues distally and slightly medially toward the knee as the body of the femur. At the top of the body of the femur on the lateral and posterior side is a large, rough bony projection known as the greater trochanter.