Trochanter

One of the bony prominences toward the near end of the thigh bone (the femur). There are two trochanters: {{}}The greater trochanter: A powerful protrusion located at the proximal (near) and lateral (outside) part of the shaft of the femur; The lesser trochanter: A pyramidal prominence projecting from the proximal (near) and medial (inside) part of the shaft of the femur. The greater trochanter is also called the major trochanter, the outer trochanter, and the lateral process of the femur. The lesser trochanter is alternatively called the minor trochanter, the inner trochanter and the medial process of the femur. The trochanters are points at which hip and thigh muscles attach. The greater trochanter gives attachment to a number of muscles (including the gluteus medius and minimus, piriformis, obturator internus and externus, and gemelli muscles) while the lesser trochanter receives the insertion of several muscles (including the psoas major and iliacus [iliopsoas] muscles). The word "trochanter" is the Greek word for "a runner." A runner runs thanks to his or her femur.

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One of the bony prominences developed from independent osseous centers near the upper extremity of the femur; there are two in humans, three in the horse. [G. t., a runner, fr. trecho, to run]

- greater t. [TA] a strong process at the proximal and lateral part of the shaft of the femur, overhanging the root of the neck; it gives attachment to the gluteus medius and minimus, piriformis, obturator internus and externus, and gemelli muscles. SYN: t. major [TA].

- lesser t. [TA] a pyramidal process projecting from the medial and proximal part of the shaft of the femur at the line of junction of the shaft and the neck; it receives the insertion of the psoas major and iliacus (iliopsoas) muscles. SYN: t. minor [TA], small t., trochantin.

- t. major [TA] SYN: greater t..

- t. minor [TA] SYN: lesser t..

- small t. SYN: lesser t..

- t. tertius [TA] SYN: third t..

- third t. [TA] an occasional process at the proximal end of the lateral lip of the linea aspera of the femur, about on a level with the lesser t., giving insertion to the greater part of the gluteus maximus muscle. SEE ALSO: gluteal tuberosity. SYN: t. tertius [TA].

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tro·chan·ter trō-'kant-ər n a rough prominence or process at the upper part of the femur of many vertebrates serving usu. for the attachment of muscles and being usu. two on each femur in mammals including humans:

a) a larger one situated on the outer part of the upper end of the shaft at its junction with the neck called also greater trochanter

b) a smaller one situated at the lower back part of the junction of the shaft and neck called also lesser trochanter

tro·chan·ter·ic .trō-kən-'ter-ik, -.kan- adj

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n.

either of the two protuberances that occur below the neck of the femur.

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tro·chan·ter (tro-kanґtər) [L., from Gr. trochantēr] either of the two processes below the neck of the femur. trochanterian, trochanteric adj