Bones

FEMUR

The femur is the bone of the thigh. It is a long cylindrical bone located between the hip joint and the knee joint. It is the longest, thickest and strongest bone in the human body. It has a head, neck, and two trochanters (protrusions of the bone) at the upper end, a body or shaft, and prominences called as condyles and epicondyles.

Published December 20, 2021

Function

It provides support to the entire upper body. It ensures that the energy is distributed downwards to the foot. The femur enables the body to contend with gravity. It helps in standing, walking, running, and jumping. Its hollow cylindrical shape contributes to the ability to withstand a great deal of strain and weight-bearing.

Disease/ Injury/ Fracture

Fracture of the femur bone generally occurs in the neck region. In young people, a fracture is usually due to a serious fall, blow, athletic injury, or vehicle accident. A fracture of the femur at this site is generally referred to as a hip fracture.

Interesting Facts

Being the longest bone, the femur makes up about 1/4^th of a person’s total height.