Definition

1. Noun:
   • A bony prominence on the femur: A trochanter is one of the two (greater and lesser) bony protuberances near the top end (proximal end) of the thigh bone (femur), which serve as important attachment points for muscles of the hip and thigh.

Usage

• The term is used primarily in anatomical, medical, and biological contexts to describe specific skeletal features.
• It is a countable noun. The plural form is "trochanters."

Examples

• Noun:
  • The gluteus medius muscle attaches to the greater trochanter of the femur.
  • A fracture of the lesser trochanter is less common than other hip fractures.
  • In insects, the trochanter is a segment of the leg between the coxa and the femur.

Advanced Usage

• "Greater trochanter": The larger, more lateral bony prominence on the femur, serving as a major attachment site for hip abductor and rotator muscles.
  • Greater trochanteric pain syndrome is a common cause of lateral hip pain.
• "Lesser trochanter": The smaller, medial bony prominence, serving as the attachment point for the iliopsoas muscle.
  • The tendon of the psoas major inserts onto the lesser trochanter.

Variants and Related Words

• Trochanteric (adj): Pertaining to a trochanter.
  • The trochanteric bursa is a fluid-filled sac that cushions the greater trochanter.

Synonyms

• Bony prominence/protuberance: A more general term for a projecting part of a bone.
• Process: In anatomy, a general term for a projection or outgrowth of tissue, especially from a bone.

Notes on Different Meanings

• While the primary anatomical definition refers to the human femur, the term "trochanter" is also used in entomology (the study of insects) and arachnology (the study of spiders and scorpions) to name a specific segment in the leg, located between the coxa (basal segment) and the femur.
  • The insect's leg consists of the coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia, and tarsus.

Noun

1. one of the bony prominences developed near the upper extremity of the femur to which muscles are attached