The intercondylar fossa of femur (intercondyloid fossa of femur, intercondylar notch of femur) is a deep notch between the rear surfaces of the medial and

lateral epicondyle of the femur The lateral epicondyle of the femur, smaller and less prominent than the medial epicondyle, gives attachment to the fibular collateral ligament of the knee-joint. Directly below it is a small depression from which a smooth well-marked groove curv ...

, two protrusions on the distal end of the

femur The femur (; ), or thigh bone, is the proximal bone of the hindlimb in tetrapod vertebrates. The head of the femur articulates with the acetabulum in the pelvic bone forming the hip joint, while the distal part of the femur articulates wit ...

(thigh bone) that joins the knee. On the front of the femur, the condyles are but much less prominent and are separated from one another by a smooth shallow articular depression called the patellar surface because it articulates with the posterior surface of the

patella The patella, also known as the kneecap, is a flat, rounded triangular bone which articulates with the femur (thigh bone) and covers and protects the anterior articular surface of the knee joint. The patella is found in many tetrapods, such as ...

(kneecap). The intercondylar fossa of femur and/or the patellar surface may also be referred to as the patellar groove, patellar sulcus, patellofemoral groove, femoropatellar groove, femoral groove, femoral sulcus, trochlear groove of femur, trochlear sulcus of femur, trochlear surface of femur, or trochlea of femur. On a lateral radiograph, it is evident as

Blumensaat's line Blumensaat's line is a line which corresponds to the roof of the intercondylar fossa of femur as seen on a lateral radiograph of the knee joint. The angle at which this line appears on the radiograph can be used to determine the position of the pate ...

Additional images

File:Slide2bib.JPG, Right knee in extension. Deep dissection. Posterior view. File:Slide2cocc.JPG, Right knee in extension. Deep dissection. Posterior view. File:Slide3dada.JPG, Knee joint. Deep dissection. Posterior view.

References

Bones of the lower limb Femur {{musculoskeletal-stub