What is the thigh bone called?

The thigh bone is called the femur. Gray's Anatomy (1918) describes it as the longest, strongest, and heaviest bone in the human body.

What it is

  • The longest, strongest, and heaviest bone in the human body.
  • Consists of a rounded head, a neck, a shaft, and two condyles at the lower end.
  • The head fits into the hip socket and the condyles form the top of the knee joint.

Where it is

  • Between the hip and the knee, forming the framework of the thigh.
  • Its head articulates with the acetabulum of the hip bone.
  • Its lower end articulates with the tibia and patella at the knee.

Source:

Last verified: 2026-07-18

  • Best Anatomy Answers is an educational reference about human anatomy. It is not medical advice — for any health concern, talk to a licensed medical professional.

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