A trochanter is a
tubercle of the
femur
The femur (; : femurs or femora ), or thigh bone is the only long bone, bone in the thigh — the region of the lower limb between the hip and the knee. In many quadrupeds, four-legged animals the femur is the upper bone of the hindleg.
The Femo ...
near its joint with the
hip bone
The hip bone (os coxae, innominate bone, pelvic bone or coxal bone) is a large flat bone, constricted in the center and expanded above and below. In some vertebrates (including humans before puberty) it is composed of three parts: the Ilium (bone) ...
. In
human
Humans (''Homo sapiens'') or modern humans are the most common and widespread species of primate, and the last surviving species of the genus ''Homo''. They are Hominidae, great apes characterized by their Prehistory of nakedness and clothing ...
s and most
mammal
A mammal () is a vertebrate animal of the Class (biology), class Mammalia (). Mammals are characterised by the presence of milk-producing mammary glands for feeding their young, a broad neocortex region of the brain, fur or hair, and three ...
s, the trochanters serve as important muscle attachment sites. Humans have two,
sometimes three, trochanters.
Etymology
The anatomical term ''trochanter'' (the bony protrusions on the femur) derives from the Greek τροχαντήρ (''trochantḗr''). This Greek word itself is generally broken down into:
* τροχάζω (''trokházō''), meaning “to run quickly,” “to gallop,” or “to move rapidly.”
* -τήρ (''-tḗr''), a suffix in Greek that often signifies an agent or instrument (“one who
oes something or “that which
oes something).
While the exact origin of the anatomical term trochanter is uncertain, multiple possible connections could be suggested. One possibility is that the term was derived directly from the Greek roots without influence from the maritime meaning, with the name referencing the trochanter’s role in enabling swift movement through muscle attachment. Alternatively, the term may have been influenced by the Greek τροχαντήρ (''trochantḗr''), which referred to the protrusions on the stern of triremes that served as attachment points for ropes and sails. In a similar manner, the anatomical ''trochanters'' are prominent bony projections that serve as key attachment sites for muscles. Later usage came to include the femoral neck.
Structure
In human anatomy, the trochanter is a part of the
femur
The femur (; : femurs or femora ), or thigh bone is the only long bone, bone in the thigh — the region of the lower limb between the hip and the knee. In many quadrupeds, four-legged animals the femur is the upper bone of the hindleg.
The Femo ...
. It can refer to:
*
Greater trochanter
*
Lesser trochanter
*
Third trochanter, which is occasionally present
Other animals
*
Fourth trochanter, of archosaur leg bones
*
Trochanter (arthropod leg), a segment of the arthropod leg
See also
*
Intertrochanteric crest
*
Intertrochanteric line
The intertrochanteric line is a line upon the anterior aspect of the proximal end of the femur, extending between the lesser trochanter and the greater trochanter. It is a rough, variable ridge.
Structure
The intertrochanteric line marks the bound ...
References
External links
*
*
{{Bones of lower extremity
Trochanter