The femur is the thigh bone.
The femur from the front, with the two rounded condyles at the lower end and the notch between them.
The hip affects the knee and vice versa
Only the lower end of the femur forms part of the knee joint but, because the upper end of the femur forms part of the hip joint, hip problems can affect the knee and vice versa. In particular, twisting (torsion) of the shaft of the femur or abnormal angulation (anteversion) of the neck of the femur may cause gait problems associated with knee pain.
Key components of the femur inside the knee joint
With the knee bent, the key components of the femur within the knee joint can be seen, and include -
- the two rounded condyles - the condyles bear the body weight through the knee joint.
- the trochlear groove between the condyles where the kneecap runs
- the intercondylar notch between the condyles towards the back of the knee, which houses and protects the important cruciate ligaments.
Synonyms:
thighbone
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