Femur (Thigh Bone) ‒ Section

**Gross anatomy of a bone**



The structure of a long bone allows for the best visualization of all of the parts of a bone. First section, the diaphysis, is the tubular shaft that runs between the proximal and distal ends of the bone. The hollow region in the diaphysis is called the medullary cavity, which is filled with yellow marrow. The walls of the diaphysis are composed of dense and hard compact bone.

The second, wider section at each end of the bone is called the epiphysis, which is filled with spongy bone. Red marrow fills the spaces in the spongy bone. Each epiphysis meets the diaphysis at the metaphysis, the narrow area that contains the epiphyseal plate (growth plate), a layer of hyaline (transparent) cartilage in a growing bone. When the bone stops growing in approximately 18-21 years, the cartilage is replaced by osseous tissue and the epiphyseal plate becomes an epiphyseal line.

The medullary cavity has a delicate membranous lining called the endosteum, where bone growth, repair, and remodeling occur. The outer surface of the bone is covered with a fibrous membrane called the periosteum. It contains blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatic vessels that nourish compact bone. Tendons and ligaments also attach to bones at the periosteum, which covers the entire outer surface except where the epiphyses meet other bones to form joints. In this region, the epiphyses are covered with articular cartilage, a thin layer of cartilage that reduces friction and acts as a shock absorber.



*LICENSES AND ATTRIBUTIONS

CC licensed content, Shared previously, Donna Browne, Skeletal System Module 4: Bone Structure, Authored by: OpenStax College. License: CC BY: Attribution. License Terms: Download for free at http://cnx.org/contents/5Ofth9yh@2/Skeletal-System-Module-4--Bone*

## Keywords
section of femur blood vessel articular cartilage bone marrow tissue dense pulp cavity long periosteum