Femur – linea aspera

Anatomy

Longitudinal ridge/crest at back of shaft. Many muscles attach: Medial lip and its extensions up and down – vastus medialis; lateral lip and its extension up – vastus lateralis; intermediate line, lateral extension above and medial extension below – adductor magnus; between vastus lateralis and adductor magnus – gluteus maximus above, short head biceps femoris below; between adductor magnus and vastus medialis – iliacus and pectineus above, adductors brevis and longus below.

Vignette

Asper (Latin); rough.

Interested in taking our award-winning Pocket Anatomy app for a test drive?