Trochanters: Important Bony Landmarks and Their Role in Hip Function

trochanter

very large, blunt, irregularly shaped process [the only examples are on the femur]

The trochanter is a bony prominence found mainly on the femur bone (thigh bone) in mammals, including humans. There are two types of trochanters on the femur; the greater trochanter and the lesser trochanter.

The greater trochanter is the larger and more superior of the two, located on the lateral (outer) aspect of the femur. It is an important site of muscle attachment for the gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, and piriformis muscles, which are responsible for hip abduction and lateral rotation. Injuries to the greater trochanter can lead to trochanteric bursitis, which is an inflammation of the bursa (fluid-filled sac) between the trochanter and the overlying IT band.

The lesser trochanter is located on the medial (inner) aspect of the femur, just below the greater trochanter. It serves as the attachment site for the psoas major muscle, which is responsible for hip flexion and lateral rotation. Injuries to the lesser trochanter are less common than those to the greater trochanter.

In summary, the trochanters are important bony landmarks on the femur that serve as attachment sites for important hip muscles, and injuries or inflammation of these structures can lead to significant hip pain and dysfunction.

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