Femoral head

Femur head

Upper extremity of right femur viewed from behind and above.
Details
Latin caput femoris
Identifiers
Gray's p.243
MeSH A02.835.232.043.650.247.343
Dorlands
/Elsevier		 c_08/12211984
TA A02.5.04.002
FMA 32851
Anatomical terms of bone
For the band with the same name, see Head of Femur (band).

The femur head (Latin: caput femoris) is the highest part of the thigh bone (femur). It is supported by the neck of the femur.

Structure

The head is globular and forms rather more than a hemisphere, is directed upward, medialward, and a little forward, the greater part of its convexity being above and in front.

Its surface is smooth, coated with cartilage in the fresh state, except over an ovoid depression, the fovea capitis femoris, which is situated a little below and behind the center of the head, and gives attachment to the ligament of head of femur.

Fovea

The surface of the head of the femur is smooth, coated with cartilage in the fresh state, except over an ovoid depression, the fovea of head of femur, which is situated a little below and behind the center of the head, and gives attachment to the ligamentum teres, also known as the foveal ligament.

Clinical significance

If there is a fracture of the neck of the femur, the blood supply through the ligament becomes crucial. In orthopedic surgery, the head of the femur is important because it can undergo avascular necrosis and consequent osteochondritis dissecans. The femoral head is removed in total hip replacement surgery.

Additional images

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

External links