Bone: Femur head
Upper extremity of right femur viewed from behind and above.
Latin	caput femoris
Gray's	subject #59 243
MeSH	femur+head

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

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.

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 head is removed in total hip replacement surgery.

[edit] Additional images

Radiograph of a healthy human hip joint	Gross pathology specimen of the head of the femur with some synovium attached at the bottom and the ligament attached at the top. Ruler in centimeters at left side.	Right femur. Anterior surface.	Left hip-joint, opened by removing the floor of the acetabulum from within the pelvis.
The Obturator externus.

[edit] External links

• Cross section at UV pembody/body15a

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