- The femur is the bone of the thigh.
- The femur articulates:
- with the acetabulum of the pelvic bone proximally, forming the hip (femoroacetabular) joint.
- with the tibia distally, forming the knee (tibiofemoral) joint.
- with the patella anteriorly, forming the patellofemoral joint.
NOTE:
- Seven muscles attach onto the linea aspera of the posterior femur (all three “adductor” muscles, all three “vasti” muscles, and the short head of biceps femoris).
- Note the curve in the shaft of the femur that is visible from the lateral and medial views.
![Anterior view of the femur on the right side of the body.](https://learnmuscles.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/18-Femur-anterior-0917-365x1024.jpg)
Anterior view of the femur on the right side of the body.
![Posterior view of the femur on the right side of the body.](https://learnmuscles.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/18-Femur-posterior-1308-339x1024.jpg)
Posterior view of the femur on the right side of the body.
![Lateral view of the femur on the right side of the body.](https://learnmuscles.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/18-Femur-lateral-1218-259x1024.jpg)
Lateral view of the femur on the right side of the body.
![Medial view of the femur on the right side of the body.](https://learnmuscles.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/18-Femur-medial-1297-230x1024.jpg)
Medial view of the femur on the right side of the body.
![Proximal (superior) view of the femur on the right side of the body.](https://learnmuscles.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/18-Femur-superior-1037-modified-new-1024x751.jpg)
Proximal (superior) view of the femur on the right side of the body.
![Distal (inferior) view of the femur on the right side of the body.](https://learnmuscles.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/18-Femur-inferior-1057-843x1024.jpg)
Distal (inferior) view of the femur on the right side of the body.