Where it is
Thigh. Its head fits into the acetabulum of the pelvis to form the hip joint; its lower end forms the knee joint with the tibia and patella.
What it does
Carries body weight from the hip to the knee and serves as a lever for the large thigh and hip muscles.
Clinical relevance
- Femoral neck fractures are common after falls in older adults with osteoporosis.
- A femoral shaft fracture can lose 1–1.5 L of blood into the thigh.
- Long-bone fractures carry a risk of fat embolism syndrome.
Nursing focus
- After hip replacement (posterior approach), avoid hip flexion beyond 90°, adduction past midline and internal rotation.
- Assess for DVT after femur and hip surgery and give prescribed anticoagulants.