Femur neck
Encyclopedia
The femur neck or neck of the femur is a flattened pyramidal process of bone, connecting the femoral head
with the femoral shaft
, and forming with the latter a wide angle opening medialward.
it forms a gentle curve from the axis of the body of the bone. In the adult, the neck forms an angle of about 125° with the body, but this varies in inverse proportion to the development of the pelvis and the stature. The angle decreases during the period of growth, but after full growth has been attained it does not usually undergo any change, even in old age; it varies considerably in different persons of the same age.
In the female
, in consequence of the increased width of the pelvis, the neck of the femur forms more nearly a right angle with the body than it does in the male
.
It is smaller in short than in long bones, and when the pelvis is wide.
In addition to projecting upward and medialward from the body of the femur, the neck also projects somewhat forward; the amount of this forward projection is extremely variable, but on an average is from 12° to 14°.
The vertical diameter of the lateral half is increased by the obliquity of the lower edge, which slopes downward to join the body at the level of the lesser trochanter, so that it measures one-third more than the antero-posterior diameter.
The medial half is smaller and of a more circular shape.
The anterior surface of the neck is perforated by numerous vascular foramina.
Along the upper part of the line of junction of the anterior surface with the head is a shallow groove, best marked in elderly subjects; this groove lodges the orbicular fibers of the capsule of the hip-joint.
The posterior surface is smooth, and is broader and more concave than the anterior: the posterior part of the capsule of the hip-joint
is attached to it about 1 cm. above the intertrochanteric crest
.
The superior border is short and thick, and ends laterally at the greater trochanter; its surface is perforated by large foramina.
The inferior border, long and narrow, curves a little backward, to end at the lesser trochanter.
Femur head
The femur head is the highest part of the thigh bone . It is supported by the neck of the femur.The head is globular and forms rather more than a hemisphere, is directed upward, medialward, and a little forward, the greater part of its convexity being above and in front.Its surface is smooth,...
with the femoral shaft
Body of femur
The body of the femur , almost cylindrical in form, is a little broader above than in the center, broadest and somewhat flattened from before backward below...
, and forming with the latter a wide angle opening medialward.
Angle of inclination
The angle is widest in infancy, and becomes lessened during growth, so that at pubertyPuberty
Puberty is the process of physical changes by which a child's body matures into an adult body capable of reproduction, as initiated by hormonal signals from the brain to the gonads; the ovaries in a girl, the testes in a boy...
it forms a gentle curve from the axis of the body of the bone. In the adult, the neck forms an angle of about 125° with the body, but this varies in inverse proportion to the development of the pelvis and the stature. The angle decreases during the period of growth, but after full growth has been attained it does not usually undergo any change, even in old age; it varies considerably in different persons of the same age.
In the female
Female
Female is the sex of an organism, or a part of an organism, which produces non-mobile ova .- Defining characteristics :The ova are defined as the larger gametes in a heterogamous reproduction system, while the smaller, usually motile gamete, the spermatozoon, is produced by the male...
, in consequence of the increased width of the pelvis, the neck of the femur forms more nearly a right angle with the body than it does in the male
Male
Male refers to the biological sex of an organism, or part of an organism, which produces small mobile gametes, called spermatozoa. Each spermatozoon can fuse with a larger female gamete or ovum, in the process of fertilization...
.
It is smaller in short than in long bones, and when the pelvis is wide.
In addition to projecting upward and medialward from the body of the femur, the neck also projects somewhat forward; the amount of this forward projection is extremely variable, but on an average is from 12° to 14°.
Structure
The neck is flattened from before backward, contracted in the middle, and broader laterally than medially.The vertical diameter of the lateral half is increased by the obliquity of the lower edge, which slopes downward to join the body at the level of the lesser trochanter, so that it measures one-third more than the antero-posterior diameter.
The medial half is smaller and of a more circular shape.
The anterior surface of the neck is perforated by numerous vascular foramina.
Along the upper part of the line of junction of the anterior surface with the head is a shallow groove, best marked in elderly subjects; this groove lodges the orbicular fibers of the capsule of the hip-joint.
The posterior surface is smooth, and is broader and more concave than the anterior: the posterior part of the capsule of the hip-joint
Capsule of hip joint
The articular capsule is strong and dense.Above, it is attached to the margin of the acetabulum 5 to 6 mm. beyond the labrum behind; but in front, it is attached to the outer margin of the labrum, and, opposite to the notch where the margin of the cavity is deficient, it is connected to the...
is attached to it about 1 cm. above the intertrochanteric crest
Intertrochanteric crest
The intertrochanteric crest is a bony ridge located on the posterior side of the head of the femur, stretching obliquely downward and medially from the summit of the greater trochanter to the lesser trochanter....
.
The superior border is short and thick, and ends laterally at the greater trochanter; its surface is perforated by large foramina.
The inferior border, long and narrow, curves a little backward, to end at the lesser trochanter.