Bone
Femur
Thigh bone - longest, strongest bone
High-yield
Femoral neck fracture in the elderly risks avascular necrosis of the head (medial femoral circumflex artery supply).
Overview
The longest and strongest bone in the body, transmitting body weight from the hip to the knee. Its neck is a common fracture site in the elderly.
Reference facts
- Bone type
- Long
- Key landmarks
- Head with fovea; Neck; Greater and lesser trochanters; Intertrochanteric line and crest; Linea aspera; Gluteal tuberosity; Medial and lateral condyles and epicondyles; Adductor tubercle; Intercondylar fossa
- Articulations
- Hip bone (hip joint); Tibia and patella (knee joint)
Clinical correlation
Intracapsular femoral neck fractures threaten the head's blood supply; extracapsular ones generally do not.
Frequently asked questions
What type of bone is the femur?
The femur is a long bone.
What does the femur articulate with?
The femur articulates with the hip bone (hip joint); Tibia and patella (knee joint).
What are the key landmarks of the femur?
Key landmarks of the femur include the head with fovea; Neck; Greater and lesser trochanters; Intertrochanteric line and crest; Linea aspera; Gluteal tuberosity; Medial and lateral condyles and epicondyles; Adductor tubercle; Intercondylar fossa.