Introduction to the language describing some of the major bony features
Bony Features
Trochanter
Clinical relevance
Large bony outcrop:
On the lateral aspect of the proximal femur forms the greater trochanter - the distal attachment point of the large
gluteal muscles
On the medial aspect of the proximal end of the femur is the slightly smaller outcrop of the lesser trochanter – the
attachment point of the large hip flexor muscles iliacus and psoas major and minor(iliopsoas)
Tuberosity
Medium size bony enlargement:
Greater and lesser tuberosities are found at the proximal end of the humerus. These tuberosities are the attachment
points for the rotator cuff muscles
Tubercle
Tibial tuberosity on the anterior surface of the proximal tibia. This is the distal attachment point of all four of the
large quadriceps muscles
Small bony enlargement:
Base of the 5th metatarsal – the attachment point of the peroneus (fibularis) brevis
Styloid process
Deltoid tubercle – distal attachment of the deltoid muscle on the lateral aspect of the proximal humerus
Very small, and sharper than the above:
Found at the distal end of the radius (lateral) and the ulna (medial)
Malleolus
Found only at the distal end of the fibula and the tibia.
They are the proximal attachment points for the lateral and medial ligaments of the ankle
Condyles
Found at the end of some of the long bones forming the articular surfaces of the hinge joints of the elbow and the
knee.
Femoral condyles found at the distal end of the femur. The tibial condyles are found at the proximal end of the tibia
on the superior surface. The tibial condyles are separated from each other on the superior surface of the tibia by the
intercondylar ridge. The margins of the tibial condyles and the intercondylar area are attachments points for the
intra-articular structures of the knee.
The ‘condyles’ of the distal end of the humerus are given the names trochlear (medially) and capitulum (laterally)
they articulate with the trochlear notch of the ulna and the superior surface of the head of the radius respectively.
Epicondyles
The epicondyle is the bony expansion (lateral and medial) at the distal end of the long bones above the condyles. The
epicondyles are important attachment points for ligaments and muscles
Fossa
These are recesses in bone to accommodate other structures
Some of these are large – the iliac fossa in the anterior surface of the ilium (part of the pelvis) and some are small the olecranon fossa on the posterior surface of the distal humerus
The scapula has three fossa – two on the posterior surface - supraspinus (above the spine of the scapula) infraspinus
(below the spine of the scapula) subscapular fossa on the anterior surface of the scapula
Foramen
The foramen are holes through which nerves and vessels pass
The major foramen at the base of the skull is the foramen magnum which is the exit point of the spinal cord from the
brainstem into the spinal column
The sciatic foramen is the exit point of the sciatic nerve from the pelvis
Sesamoid
The intervertebral foramen formed between adjacent vertebra allow spinal nerves to leave the spinal column
A small bone within a tendon positioned to enhance the effect of a muscle by altering the line of pull
The patella is the largest sesamoid bone improving the function of the quadriceps muscle
There are two small sesamoid bones within the tendons passing posterior to the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint