The key difference between femur and humerus is that femur is a long bone that is located in the upper leg, while humerus is a long bone that is located in the upper arm.
The human skeleton system consists of bones, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments. The skeleton makes up about 20% of a person’s body weight. An adult’s human skeleton contains 206 bones. However, children’s skeleton contains more bones. Some of these bones in children’s skeletons fuse together as they grow up. Moreover, there are a few differences between male and female skeletons as well. The male skeleton is longer and has a high bone mass. On the other hand, the female skeleton has a broader pelvis to accommodate the pregnancy. Femur and humerus are two long bones in the human skeleton.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Femur
3. What is Humerus
4. Similarities – Femur and Humerus
5. Femur vs Humerus in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Femur vs Humerus
What is Femur?
The femur, also called the thigh bone, is a long bone located in the upper leg. It is articulated at the hip and the knee. The femur is the longest and strongest bone in the human body. It is normally 18 inches long. It is a critical part of the human skeleton that determines the ability to stand and move. Femur also supports important muscles, tendons, ligaments, and parts of the circulatory system. It has two rounded ends and a long shaft. It is made up of several parts, such as the femur proximal aspect, femur shaft, and femur distal aspect.
Severe trauma, like a fall or car accident, can break the femur. If someone experiences a fracture, surgery is needed to repair the bone, and physical therapy is needed to help regain the strength and ability to move. Moreover, the common conditions and disorders that affect the femur may include fractures, osteoporosis, and patellofemoral pain syndrome. These conditions can be treated through bone density tests, X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans. Femur fractures are treated through immobilization (splint or cast) and surgery. Osteoporosis can be treated through exercise, vitamins, and mineral supplements. Furthermore, patellofemoral pain syndrome is treated through physical therapy and surgery (arthroscopy and realignment).
What is Humerus?
The humerus is a long bone located in the upper arm between the elbow and shoulder. It is also the longest bone in the arm. The normal function of this bone is to support movement in the arms and shoulders. The humerus is the only bone in the upper arm. It also has three main parts: the proximal part, the body or shaft, and the distal part. Moreover, the humerus bone has a length of 12 inches.
The main condition that affects the humerus is humerus fractures. The other issues include radial nerve injury, metastatic bone disease, and osteochondrose. Moreover, these conditions can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, X-ray, MRI, and CT scan. Humerus fractures can be treated through physical therapy and surgeries like realigning the bone fragments using plates, pins, or screws. Radial nerve injury is treated through pain medications, physical therapy, and surgery. Metastatic bone disease treatments include orthopaedic fixation, radiation therapy, and surgery. Furthermore, osteochondrose is treated by resting the joints and physical therapy.
What are the Similarities Between Femur and Humerus?
- The femur and humerus are two long bones in the human skeleton.
- Both bones are very important in supporting the movements.
- They contain three main parts: the proximal part, the shaft, and the distal part.
- Both bones can be subjected to different conditions and disorders.
- The conditions affecting these bones can be diagnosed through X-ray, MRI, and CT scans.
- The conditions affecting these bones can be treated through physical therapy and respective surgeries.
What is the Difference Between Femur and Humerus?
The femur is a long bone that is located in the upper leg, while the humerus is a long bone that is located in the upper arm. Thus, this is the key difference between femur and humerus. Furthermore, the length of the femur bone is 16 inches, while the length of the humerus bone is 12 inches.
The below infographic presents the differences between femur and humerus in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Femur vs Humerus
The human skeleton maintains the structure of the human body and helps in the body’s movement. The femur and humerus are two long bones in the human skeleton that support movements in the body. However, the femur is a long bone located in the upper leg, while the humerus is a long bone located in the upper arm. So, this is the key difference between femur and humerus.
Reference:
1. “Femur (Thighbone): Anatomy, Function & Common Conditions.” Cleveland Clinic.
2. “Humerus.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Achillobator Femur & Tibia” By PaleoNeolitic – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Long Bone (Humerus)” By Blausen.com staff (2014). “Medical gallery of Blausen Medical 2014”. WikiJournal of Medicine 1 (2). DOI:10.15347/wjm/2014.010. ISSN 2002-4436. – Own work (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia