Human Femur Bone Model

Quick Answer: The Human Femur Bone Model is a femur bone model, a replica of the thigh bone, the longest and strongest bone in the human body, used to teach its landmarks from the rounded head at the hip down to the condyles at the knee.

Landmarks of the Thigh Bone

At its upper end the femur has a smooth, ball-shaped head that fits into the acetabulum of the pelvis, with a small pit, the fovea, where a ligament attaches. The narrow neck joins the head to the shaft at an angle, generally around 125 degrees in adults. Where neck and shaft meet stand two bony prominences, the greater trochanter on the outside and the lesser trochanter on the inner back surface, which anchor powerful hip muscles.

The shaft is smooth and bowed slightly forwards, with a rough ridge down the back, the linea aspera, for the thigh muscles. At the lower end it widens into the medial and lateral condyles, which roll on the tibia at the knee, separated at the back by the intercondylar fossa where the cruciate ligaments attach. At the front, a smooth groove forms the joint surface for the patella, and the epicondyles above the condyles give origin to the collateral ligaments.

The femur model is often used to explain why hip fractures in older people are serious: much of the blood supply to the head runs up along the neck, so a displaced fracture there can starve the head of blood. The listing does not state the side, the scale or the material, so confirm those. For the joints at either end, see the hip joint model and the knee joint model.

Specifications

Applications

• Osteology practicals on the lower limb, identifying landmarks and muscle attachments
• Orthopaedic and physiotherapy teaching of hip fractures and hip replacement
• Forensic lessons on how femur length helps estimate stature
• Comparing bone shape with an X-ray of the thigh

Care & Handling

• Hold the femur bone model at the shaft; the neck is the thinnest part and can snap if the bone is lifted by the head.
• Wipe with a slightly damp cloth and dry it; avoid solvents that remove printed or painted muscle markings.
• Lay the model flat on a padded shelf so it cannot roll off.

Why Choose LabEquip

Anatomy departments, orthopaedic training units and forensic science courses use a single femur for close study that a skeleton on a stand makes awkward. LabEquip lists the model in its biology lab products; send questions on side and scale through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the femur the strongest bone?

It carries the body’s weight in standing, walking and running, and its thick-walled tubular shaft resists bending and twisting. Its length also makes it the longest bone in the body.

What is the angle of inclination of the femur?

It is the angle between the neck and the shaft, generally around 125 degrees in adults. A larger angle is called coxa valga and a smaller one coxa vara, and both change the mechanics of the hip.

Why are femoral neck fractures a concern in older adults?

Bone thins with age, making the neck easier to break after a fall. Because vessels to the head run along the neck, a displaced fracture can cut off blood to the head, which may then collapse.

How do you tell a left femur from a right femur?

Hold the bone upright as if it were in your own leg, head at the top and the smooth patellar groove facing the same way you face. The head points towards the midline, so a femur whose head points to your left is a right femur.

What attaches to the greater and lesser trochanters?

The greater trochanter receives the gluteus medius and minimus and several small hip rotators. The lesser trochanter is the attachment of the iliopsoas, the main muscle that bends the hip.

Can femur length be used to estimate height?

Yes. Femur length correlates with stature, and forensic scientists use formulae derived from reference populations to estimate a person’s height from the bone, with a margin of error.

Last Updated: September 2026