trochanter

American  

[troh-kan-ter] / troʊˈkæn tər /

noun

1. Anatomy. either of two knobs at the top of the femur, the greater on the outside and the lesser on the inside, serving for the attachment of muscles between the thigh and pelvis.

2. Zoology. any similar prominence on the femur in many other vertebrates.

3. Entomology. (in an insect) the usually small second segment of the leg, between the coxa and femur.

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trochanter British  

/ trəʊˈkæntə /

noun

1. any of several processes on the upper part of the vertebrate femur, to which muscles are attached

2. the third segment of an insect's leg

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Other Word Forms

• subtrochanteric adjective
• trochanteral adjective
• trochanteric adjective

Etymology

Origin of trochanter

1605–15; < New Latin < Greek trochantḗr ball on which the hip bone turns in its socket

Example Sentences

“Furthermore, each leg of mine has seven sections—the coxa, the trochanter, the femur, the patella, the tibia, the metatarsus, and the tarsus.”

From Literature

An articular surface on the ilium of birds against which the great trochanter of the femur plays.

From Project Gutenberg

They constitute a very serious and troublesome complication, and may occur on any part of the body subjected to pressure, but are most frequent over the sacrum and trochanters.

From Project Gutenberg

In birds, the femur is shorter than the bones of the leg; its great trochanter is in contact with a prominence which occupies the posterior part of the border of the cotyloid cavity.

From Project Gutenberg

There was a distinct zone of slight hyperesthesia about as wide as the hand above the femoral trochanters.

From Project Gutenberg