Lesser Trochanter Flashcards

Study the lesser trochanter of the femur, including its location, iliopsoas attachment, anatomical relationships, biomechanics, and clinical significance.

Card 1 of 20Question

What is the lesser trochanter of the femur?

A conical bony projection on the posteromedial aspect of the proximal femur.

In This Section

1. What is the lesser trochanter of the femur?

A conical bony projection on the posteromedial aspect of the proximal femur.

2. Where is the lesser trochanter located?

At the posteromedial junction of the femoral neck and shaft.

3. How is the lesser trochanter positioned relative to the greater trochanter?

Inferior, medial, and posterior to the greater trochanter.

4. Which muscle inserts onto the lesser trochanter?

The iliopsoas muscle.

5. Which two muscles form the iliopsoas?

The psoas major and iliacus muscles.

6. What is the principal action of the iliopsoas muscle attached to the lesser trochanter?

Flexion of the thigh at the hip joint.

7. How does the lesser trochanter contribute to hip biomechanics?

It provides a bony lever for the iliopsoas tendon to exert hip flexion force.

8. Which bony ridge connects the lesser trochanter to the greater trochanter anteriorly?

The intertrochanteric line.

9. Which bony ridge connects the lesser trochanter to the greater trochanter posteriorly?

The intertrochanteric crest.

10. Which bony line extends inferiorly from the lesser trochanter toward the linea aspera?

The pectineal line of the femur.

11. Is the lesser trochanter located inside the hip joint capsule?

No. It is an extracapsular bony prominence.

12. Which nerve supplies the psoas major muscle that inserts onto the lesser trochanter?

Direct branches of the anterior rami of lumbar spinal nerves, mainly L1 to L3.

13. Which nerve supplies the iliacus muscle that contributes to the lesser trochanter insertion?

The femoral nerve, primarily from spinal segments L2 to L4.

14. Which arteries contribute to the blood supply of the lesser trochanteric region?

Branches of the medial and lateral circumflex femoral arteries.

15. What is a lesser trochanter avulsion fracture?

Separation of the lesser trochanter from the femur due to traction by the iliopsoas tendon.

16. In which age group are traumatic lesser trochanter avulsion fractures most commonly seen?

Adolescents, particularly during athletic activities before the apophysis has fused.

17. What movement commonly causes an avulsion fracture of the lesser trochanter in adolescent athletes?

Sudden, forceful contraction of the iliopsoas during hip flexion.

18. Why is an isolated lesser trochanter fracture concerning in an adult without significant trauma?

It may indicate a pathological fracture caused by an underlying bone lesion or malignancy.

19. Why does the lesser trochanter appear more prominent on an anteroposterior hip radiograph when the femur is externally rotated?

External rotation moves the posteromedial lesser trochanter into a more visible profile.

20. What imaging feature helps identify the proximal extent of an intertrochanteric femoral fracture?

A fracture line extending through the region between the greater and lesser trochanters.