The femur's movement is primarily understood by examining its articulation with the tibia at the tibiofemoral joint (knee joint). The femur moves via knee flexion and extension and internal and external rotation.
Femoral Movement at the Knee Joint
The femur articulates distally with the tibia's condyles, forming the tibiofemoral joint. The movement at this joint can be categorized as follows:
- Flexion: Bending the knee, decreasing the angle between the femur and tibia.
- Extension: Straightening the knee, increasing the angle between the femur and tibia.
- Internal Rotation: Rotating the tibia inward relative to the femur.
- External Rotation: Rotating the tibia outward relative to the femur.
These movements occur in different planes:
| Movement | Plane |
|---|---|
| Flexion/Extension | Sagittal |
| Internal/External Rotation | Horizontal |
Therefore, the femur's movement is crucial for various lower limb functions.
