Bone: Femur
Anterior view of the femur
Latin	os femoris, os longissimum
Gray's	subject #59 242
Origins	Gastrocnemius , Vastus lateralis, Vastus medialis, Vastus intermedius
Insertions	tensor fasciae latae, gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, Gluteus maximus, Iliopsoas
Articulations	hip: acetabulum of pelvis superiorly knee: with the tibia and patella inferiorly
MeSH	Femur

The femur (pl. femurs or femora), or thigh bone, is the most proximal (closest to the center of the body) bone of the leg in tetrapod vertebrates capable of walking or jumping, such as most land mammals, birds, many reptiles such as lizards, and amphibians such as frogs. In vertebrates with four legs such as dogs and horses, the femur is found only in the rear legs. The femur is the largest bone in the human body. The head of the femur articulates with the acetabulum. By most measures the femur is one of the strongest bones in the body.

Other species[link]

In primitive tetrapods, the main points of muscle attachment along the femur are the internal trochanter and fourth trochanter, and a ridge along the ventral surface of the femoral shaft referred to as the adductor crest. The neck of the femur is generally minimal or absent in the most primitive forms, reflecting a simple attachment to the acetabulum. The greater trochanter was present in the extinct archosaurs, as well as in modern birds and mammals, being associated with the loss of the primitive sprawling gait. The lesser trochanter is a unique development of mammals, which lack both the internal and fourth trochanters. The adductor crest is also often absent in mammals or alternatively reduced to a series of creases along the surface of the bone.^[1]

Some species of whales^[2], snakes, and other non-walking vertebrates have vestigial femurs.

One of the earliest known vertebrates to have a femur is the Eusthenopteron, a prehistoric lobe-finned fish from the Late Devonian period.

Terminology in invertebrate zoology[link]

In invertebrate zoology the name femur appears in Arthropodology. The usage is not homologous with that of vertebrate anatomy; the term "femur" simply has been adopted by analogy and refers, where applicable, to the most proximal of (usually) the two longest jointed segments of the legs of the Arthropoda. The two basal segments preceding the femur are the coxa and trochanter. This convention is not followed in Carcinology but it applies in Arachnology and Entomology. In Myriapodology another segment, the prefemur, connects the trochanter and femur.

Fractures[link]

A femoral fracture that involves the femoral head, femoral neck or the shaft of the femur immediately below the lesser trochanter may be classified as a hip fracture, especially when associated with osteoporosis.

Etymology[link]

In medical Latin the genitive form of femur is always femoris, but in classical Latin the genitive is often feminis, and should not be confused with case forms of femina, which means "woman".

Additional images[link]

• 

  Knee diagram

• 

  Upper extremity of right femur viewed from behind and above.

• 

  Right femur. Anterior surface.

• 

  Right femur. Posterior surface.

• 

  Left hip-joint, opened by removing the floor of the acetabulum from within the pelvis.

• 

  Right knee-joint. Posterior view.

• 

  Left knee-joint from behind, showing interior ligaments.

• 

  Sagittal section of right knee-joint.

• 

  Capsule of right knee-joint (distended). Lateral aspect.

• 

  Capsule of right knee-joint (distended). Posterior aspect.

• 

  Cross-section through the middle of the thigh.

• 

  Deep muscles of the medial femoral region.

• 

  Posterior view.

• 

  Anterior view.

• 

  Superior epiphysis - anterior view

• 

  Superior epiphysis - posterior view

• 

  Inferior epiphysis - posterior view

References[link]

External links[link]

Look up femur or thighbone in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Image with major components labeled at v^{[dead link]}
• Cross section at UV pembody/body18b

Kurtis Foster
Born	(1981-11-24) November 24, 1981 (age 30) Carp, ON, CAN
Height	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight	226 lb (103 kg; 16 st 2 lb)
Position	Defence
Shoots	Right
NHL team Former teams	Minnesota Wild Atlanta Thrashers Tampa Bay Lightning Edmonton Oilers Anaheim Ducks New Jersey Devils
NHL Draft	40th overall, 2000 Calgary Flames
Playing career	2001–present

Kurtis Foster (born November 24, 1981) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman. He is currently playing for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League.

Playing career[link]

Kurtis Foster was selected in the second round, 40th overall, in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft by the Calgary Flames from the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League. On December 18, 2001, Foster was traded by Calgary with Jeff Cowan to the Atlanta Thrashers for Petr Buzek.

On June 26, 2004, Foster was traded to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim for Niclas Havelid. After one season with the Ducks, Foster signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Wild. He started the season in Houston of the AHL, but after a hot start, got called up and played his first NHL game of the year on November 19, 2005. He scored his first two goals of his young career that game against Tomas Vokoun.

On March 20, 2008, Foster suffered a broken left femur in a game against the San Jose Sharks. Foster suffered the injury when Sharks centre, Torrey Mitchell, checked Foster into the bottom of the boards while attempting to prevent an icing call. The hit which resulted in a penalty was later ruled, by the NHL, accidental. Foster had season-ending surgery to repair his broken left femur and missed the remainder of the season and postseason.

In light of Foster's injury, following the 2007–08 NHL season, the NHL added the following to the rule regarding icing to protect both competitors as they raced for the puck:^[1]

Foster was not ready for the beginning of the 2008–09 season, but on October 11, 2008, announced he was skating with full gear and feels no pain when skating. On February 9, 2009, Kurtis returned to play for the Houston Aeros of the AHL on a conditioning stint from the Wild. He played in a 6-3 win over the Chicago Wolves and registered 2 PIM.^[2]

On July 8, 2009, Foster was signed as a free agent to a one-year contract by the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he posted a career high 42 points.^[3] On July 1, 2010, he signed a two-year contract with the Edmonton Oilers.^[4]

In his ongoing effort to get the NHL to change its icing rule, on February 3, 2011 Foster told TSN that there was complications during his surgery to repair his broken femur. Foster bled out and was in danger of losing his leg and could have died. A surgery that typically takes three hours took close to eight hours to complete. Foster wondered aloud if the NHL would have changed the icing rule had he not made it through the surgery. He stated he would like to see the NHL change the rule before anybody else has to go through what he went through, or worse, such as a spinal injury. Don Cherry has been lobbying for many years for a rule change, and has been critical of the NHL for not going to no touch icing.

On February 12, 2011, Foster recorded his 100th career assist, a secondary assist on a goal by Andrew Cogliano, in a 5-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators.

Foster finished the 2010-11 NHL season with a disappointing record, as the Oilers hoped to get more out of him, despite this, Foster scored 8 goals to go along with 14 assist and 22 points.

On July 1, 2011, Foster was traded to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for defenceman Andy Sutton.

On December 12, 2011, along with goaltender Timo Pielmeier, Foster was traded to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for defenceman Mark Fraser and forward Rod Pelley.^[5] After only 28 games with the Devils, Foster was on the move again on February 24, 2012, when he was traded back to the Minnesota Wild along with Nick Palmieri and Stephane Veilleux, and draft picks in exchange for Marek Zidlicky.^[6]

Foster has a brother, Craig, who was drafted 5th overall in the 2000 OHL Draft. He spent 5 years playing in the OHL, before playing 4 more in the CIS league with the UPEI Panthers. Craig resides in Charlottetown, and coaches a Midget AAA hockey team.

Awards[link]

• 2003–04 AHL - Yanick Dupre Memorial Award (AHL Man of the Year)

Career statistics[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Kurtis Foster's career stats at Eliteprospects.com
• Kurtis Foster's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
• Kurtis Foster at TSN.ca