Linea aspera
Right femur. Posterior surface. (Linea aspera not labeled, but region is visible. Medial lip is at left; lateral lip is at right.)
Details
Identifiers
Latin	linea aspera
TA98	A02.5.04.013
TA2	1372
FMA	75101
Anatomical terms of bone [edit on Wikidata]

Thelinea aspera (Latin:rough line) is a ridge of roughened surface on the posterior surface of theshaft of thefemur.^[1] It is the site of attachments ofmuscles and the intermuscularseptum.

Its margins diverge above and below.

The linea aspera is a prominent longitudinal ridge or crest, on the middle third of the bone, presenting a medial and a lateral lip, and a narrow rough, intermediate line. It is an important insertion point for the adductors and thelateral andmedial intermuscular septa that divides the thigh into threecompartments. The tension generated by muscle attached to the bones is responsible for the formation of the ridges.

Above, the linea aspera is prolonged by three ridges.

• Thelateral ridge is very rough, and runs almost vertically upward to the base of thegreater trochanter. It is termed thegluteal tuberosity, and gives attachment to part of thegluteus maximus: its upper part is often elongated into a roughened crest, on which a more or less well-marked, rounded tubercle, thethird trochanter, is occasionally developed.
• Theintermediate ridge orpectineal line is continued to the base of thelesser trochanter and gives attachment to thepectineus muscle;
• themedial ridge is lost in theintertrochanteric crest; between the intermediate and medial ridges a portion of theiliacus muscle is inserted.

Below, the linea aspera is prolonged into two ridges, enclosing between them a triangular area, thepopliteal surface, upon which thepopliteal artery rests.

• Of these two ridges, thelateral is the more prominent, and descends to the summit of thelateral condyle.
• Themedial is less marked, especially at its upper part, where it is crossed by thefemoral artery. It ends below at the summit of themedial condyle, in a small tubercle, theadductor tubercle, which affords insertion to the tendon of theadductor magnus.

The tension generated by muscle attached to the bones is responsible for the formation of the ridges.

A number of muscles attach to the linea aspera:

• From themedial lip of the linea aspera and its prolongations above and below, thevastus medialis muscle originates.
• From thelateral lip and its upward prolongation, thevastus lateralis muscle takes origin.
• Theadductor magnus muscle is insertedinto the linea aspera, and to its lateral prolongation above, and its medial prolongation below.
• Between the vastus lateralis and the adductor magnus two muscles areattached:
  • thegluteus maximus muscle inserted above,
  • and the short head of thebiceps femoris muscle originating below.
• Between the adductor magnus and the vastus medialis four muscles areinserted:
  • theiliacus muscle andpectineus muscle above;
  • theadductor brevis muscle andadductor longus muscle below.

The linea aspera is perforated a little below its center by thenutrient canal, which is directed obliquely upward.^[1]

• 
  Cross-section through the middle of the thigh.

This article incorporates text in thepublic domain frompage 246 of the 20th edition ofGray's Anatomy(1918)

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