fémorale

Fémorale is an anatomical adjective derived from the femur, the thigh bone. In English usage the equivalent term is femoral. In medical French and related languages, fémorale describes structures and regions connected with the femur or the thigh.

The femur is the longest and strongest bone of the human skeleton, extending from the hip to the knee. Its proximal end forms the hip joint via the femoral head and neck, while the distal end articulates with the tibia and patella. Notable features include the greater and lesser trochanters, the shaft, and the linea aspera, which serve as attachment sites for muscles and ligaments.

The vascular component includes the femoral artery, a continuation of the external iliac artery, which travels through the femoral triangle and becomes the popliteal artery after crossing the adductor hiatus. The profunda femoris, or deep artery of the thigh, supplies the thigh with perforating branches. The femoral vein accompanies the artery and drains the deep thigh. The femoral nerve, arising from L2-L4, supplies most of the anterior thigh muscles and provides sensory innervation via branches such as the saphenous nerve.

Clinically, injuries and conditions involving the femoral region include neck fractures, trauma to the femoral artery, and vascular or nerve injuries within the anterior thigh. Fractures near the hip can jeopardize the blood supply to the femoral head, risking avascular necrosis and complicating recovery. Knowledge of femoral anatomy underpins orthopedic, vascular, and trauma care, as well as imaging and surgical planning.

In English, the corresponding term is femoral; fémorale appears in French and other languages as the equivalent form.