th lower legs Flashcards
(4 cards)
femeur
The femur is the heaviest and longest bone in the body.
Its top (proximal end) is shaped like a ball and fits into the acetabulum of the hip bone, forming the hip joint.
The neck of the femur is a narrowed region just below the head, and it is one of the most common fracture sites, especially in older adults.
When it breaks, it’s often referred to as a hip fracture, even though it’s technically a fracture of the femur neck, not the pelvis.
The greater trochanter and lesser trochanter are bony projections on the proximal (upper) part of the femur.
They serve as attachment points for muscles, especially those that move the hip and thigh.
The gluteal tuberosity serves as an attachment point for the gluteus maximus muscle.
bottom part of femeur
The femur slants medially (toward the body’s midline) as it runs down from the hip to the knee.
This angle helps keep the knees aligned with the body’s center of gravity for better balance and walking.
This medial slant is more noticeable in women because the female pelvis is generally wider.
At the distal (lower) end of the femur:
There are two condyles: the lateral condyle (outer) and the medial condyle (inner).
These articulate (connect) with the tibia (shin bone) below.
On the back side, the condyles are separated by a deep groove called the intercondylar fossa.
On the front side, there is the patellar surface, a smooth area where the patella (kneecap) sits and forms a joint.
the tibula
The tibia is the larger and more medial bone in the lower leg.
At the top (proximal end), it connects with the femur to form the knee joint.
At the bottom (distal end), it forms part of the ankle joint, creating the inner ankle bone called the medial malleolus.
It also runs alongside the fibula, but the fibula does not help form the knee.The medial condyle and lateral condyle of the tibia are located at the top (proximal end) of the tibia.
These articulate (connect) with the medial and lateral condyles of the femur to form the knee joint.
fibbula
The fibula, which lies laterally alongside the tibia, forms joints with it both proximally and distally, and is thin and sticklike. The fibula has no part in forming the knee joint. Its distal end, the lateral malleolus, forms the outer part of the ankle.
