Femur anatomical positioning

Orientation of the femur follows that described in Ruff and Hayes (1983) and Ruff
(2002). The femur is first positioned with the posterior edges of the condyles against the
supporting surface (A) and leveled by placing a small piece of clay under the proximal
end (B) until the A-P midpoints of the shaft just distal to the lesser trochanter (a in Fig. D)
and just proximal to the condyles (b in Fig. D) are equidistant above the surface. The
coronal plane is then defined as parallel to the supporting surface through the most distally
projecting points on the two condyles (or the average height above the surface of these
points, if not the same height). The sagittal plane is perpendicular to the coronal plane and
contains the M-L midpoint of the shaft just distal to the lesser trochanter (c in Fig. C) and
the deepest point in the intercondylar notch (d in Fig. C). The intersection of the coronal
and sagittal planes defines the longitudinal axis of the femur. The length used in
determining cross section locations, indicated as length, is measured parallel to the
longitudinal axis from the average distal projection of the condyles (e and f in Fig. C) to
the superior surface of the neck at its deepest (most distal) point (g in Fig. C).

Literature cited
Ruff CB, Hayes WC. 1983. Cross-sectional geometry of Pecos Pueblo femora and tibiaea biomechanical
investigation. I. Method and general patterns of variation. Am J Phys Anthropol 60:359381.
Ruff CB. 2002. Long bone articular and diaphyseal structure in Old World monkeys and apes. I: locomotor
effects. Am J Phys Anthropol 119:305342.