Femur
To read about other bones of the feet and lower legs, use the links on the left-side of this page.
The femur is the major bone of the upper-leg, and is also known non-medically as the 'thigh bone'. It is a long bone that articulates between the hip (above) and the knee (below).
The narrowed end of the femur (femoral neck) carries the head of the femur and is the most common site of fracture of the leg in elderly women. This may occur in situations involving falls, such as down stairs or slopes or on ice or uneven ground.
For diagram
showing its location relative to the fibula, tibia, patella, and other
bones of the leg, ankle, and foot, see the simple sketch diagram below.
More about Foot and Leg Bones:
This website includes many pages about bones and the skeletal system. The following pages may be of interest. These also link to further pages about related topics such as specific types of fractures, bone diseases and so on.
- Structures and Functions of Bones (an overview about the Skeletal System)
- Types of Bones, such as long bones, short bones, flat bones, etc.
- Bone Markings and Features on Bones of the Human Body
- Types of Joints, such as immoveable, slightly moveable and freely moveable joints
- Diagram of the Human Skeleton
- Overview of types of Conditions and Disorders of the Skeletal System
For further information see also our pages of books about orthopaedics.
