Radiology of The Linea Aspera

Abstract

ANATOMYRADIOLOGY The posterior concavity of the femoral shaft Two thin parallel lines of cortical bone density is buttressed along its middle third by the linea are occasionally seen running longitudinally aspera. This is a narrow, elevated length of bone along the middle third of the shaft of the femur with lateral and medial lips. It provides attach-on an A.P. radiograph. On the lateral view, inment for muscles of the Vastus and Adductor creased cortical thickness with filling in of the groups and the short head of Biceps Femoris usual posterior concavity of the femur is seen. (Last, 1978). It divides distally into medial and lateral supracondylar ridges. FIGURE 2A FIGURE 2. -Antero-posterior radiograph showing a pro-FIGURE I . -Antero-posterior radiograph of an minent linea aspera with filling in of the posterior concavity ?IatomiCal specimen showing two longitudinal parallel of the femur on the lateral projection. h e s in the mid shaft of the femur corresponding to the site of the medial and lateral lips of the linea aspera.

The linea aspera as a guide for femoral rotation after tumor resection: is it directly posterior? A technical note

“…The pectineal line is the insertion for the pectineus muscle, which is located lateral and superior to it [ 1 ]. Radiographically, the linea aspera consists of two axially oriented parallel lines superimposed on the middle third of the posterior surface of the shaft of the femur [ 2 , 3 ]. Most anatomical textbooks and radiological studies describe the linea aspera as a “posterior” or “midline” structure.…”

Morphological study of linea aspera variations – proposal of classification and sexual dimorphism

“…While the spiral line, which provides the origin for the vastus medialis muscle, runs medially towards the lesser trochanter, the pectineal line, marking the insertion of the pectineus muscle, is located lateral and superior to it [15]. Contrary to this morphological definition, the clinical definition is short, because the linea aspera consists of two axially oriented parallel lines superimposed on the middle third of the posterior surface of the shaft [5,8,10,17]. However, according to our observations, the shape of the linea aspera is much more varied and so it is necessary to describe this structure more precisely.…”