Lesser trochanter

Lesser trochanter
Left hip-joint, opened by removing the floor of the acetabulum from within the pelvis.
Upper extremity of right femur viewed from behind and above.
Details
Insertions	Psoas major
Identifiers
Latin	trochanter minor
Dorlands /Elsevier	t_20/12824961
TA	A02.5.04.007
FMA	32853
Anatomical terms of bone

The lesser trochanter (small trochanter) of the femur is a conical eminence, which varies in size in different subjects.

Structure

It projects from the lower and back part of the base of the femur neck.

From its apex three well-marked borders extend:

• two of these are above
  • a medial continuous with the lower border of the femur neck
  • a lateral with the intertrochanteric crest
• the inferior border is continuous with the middle division of the linea aspera

The summit of the trochanter is rough, and gives insertion to the tendon of the Psoas major and the Iliacus.

Clinical significance

It can be involved in an avulsion fracture.^[1]

Additional images

• 
  Right femur. Posterior surface.
• 
  Right hip-joint from the front.
• 
  Capsule of hip-joint (distended). Posterior aspect.
• 
  Hip joint. Lateral view. Lesser trochanter
• 
  Muscles of Thigh. Anterior views.

See also

• Greater trochanter
• Third trochanter

References

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

External links

• Anatomy figure: 13:01-11 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center
• lljoints at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (hipjointanterior, hipjointposterior)