The Head Of The Femur In A Medial View

Description

Medial rotation brings the proximal femur into profile, centering the spherical head (caput femoris) and its hyaline cartilage covered articular surface as it faces the acetabulum. The animation resolves the head to neck junction (collum femoris), with the femoral neck extending inferolaterally from the head and narrowing toward the intertrochanteric region. Attention settles on the fovea capitis femoris, a small nonarticular depression on the posteroinferomedial quadrant of the head. Subtle shifts in light and angle clarify the transition from cartilage bearing surface to the bare foveal pit. That foveal landmark matters because it marks the attachment of the ligament of head of femur (ligamentum teres), which conveys the acetabular branch of the obturator artery (artery to the head of femur) in many individuals. When teaching femoral head vascularity, this medial view helps you contrast that minor intraarticular contribution with the dominant extracapsular supply from the medial femoral circumflex artery and its retinacular branches along the femoral neck, the vessels most at risk in displaced intracapsular femoral neck fractures. Motion adds clarity: the sequence makes the fovea easier to localize consistently, which can be harder in single frames where specular highlights obscure the contour. Use it in hip joint anatomy modules, orthopaedic fracture conferences, and operative planning education where you need a clean, orientation specific look at the femoral head surface before introducing the acetabulum or labrum. It also fits radiology teaching on femoral head landmarks for arthrography, CT, or MRI correlation. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.