Tuberosity, trochanter, and tubercle are all terms used to describe bony protuberances or prominences where muscles, tendons, or ligaments are attached to bones. The difference between them usually lies in their locations and the specific structures they are associated with throughout the body.
The key difference between trochanter and tubercle is their size and location. Trochanter refers to a large, prominent bony protrusion on a bone while tubercle refers to a small, rounded projection or bump on a bone.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Trochanter
3. What is Tubercle
4. Similarities – Trochanter and Tubercle
5. Trochanter vs Tubercle in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Trochanter vs Tubercle
7. FAQ – Trochanter and Tubercle
What is Trochanter?
Trochanter is specific to the femur or thigh bone. They are large, prominent bony protrusions that serve as attachment sites for muscles. The greater trochanter and lesser trochanter are the two main examples of trochanters of the femur.
Figure 01: Trochanter
The greater trochanter is a large, irregular, quadrilateral eminence of the femur, which is the attachment site for five muscles while the lesser trochanter is a conical posteromedial projection of the shaft of the femur that serves as the principal insertion site of the iliopsoas muscle.
What is Tubercle?
Tubercle refers to a small, rounded projection or bump on a bone. It is often the site of muscle or ligament attachment. Major examples of tubercles include the greater tubercle of the humerus and the medial malleolus of the tibia.
Figure 02: Lesser Tubercle
The greater tubercle of the humerus is a bony projection of the lateral part of the proximal end of the humerus, which provides attachment points for supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and teres minor muscles. The medial malleolus of the tibia is a bony bump on the inner side of the ankle, which serves as the proximal attachment for the collateral ligaments of the ankles.
Similarities Between Trochanter and Tubercle
- Trochanter and tubercle are two different protrusions in bones.
- Both are attachment sites.
- Both can attach to different muscles in the body.
- Problems in both can cause clinical diseases in humans.
Difference Between Trochanter and Tubercle
Definition
- The trochanter is a protrusion of the femur near its joint with the hip bone.
- The tubercle is a protrusion in the humerus and tibia that serves as an attachment site for skeletal muscles.
Examples
- Greater trochanter and lesser trochanter of femur.
- Greater tubercle of the humerus and the medial malleolus of the tibia.
Function
- The greater trochanter is the attachment site for five muscles, while the lesser trochanter serves as the principal insertion site of the iliopsoas muscle.
- The greater tubercle of the humerus provides attachment points for the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and teres minor muscles, while the medial malleolus of the tibia serves as the proximal attachment point for the collateral ligaments of the ankles.
Clinical Significance
- Problems with the trochanter cause intertrochanteric femur fracture.
- Problems with the tubercle cause fracture of greater tuberosity.
The infographic below presents the differences between trochanter and tubercle in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Trochanter vs Tubercle
In summary, trochanter and tubercle refer to bony prominences for muscle and tendon attachment. The difference between trochanter and tubercle lies in their size, location, and specific bone association. Trochanter is a large protrusion of the femur near its joint with the hip bone while tubercle is a small protrusion in the humerous and tibia that serves as an attachment for skeletal muscles.
FAQ: Trochanter and Tubercle
1. Is trochanter the same as hip?
- The greater trochanter is located at the top of the thigh bone, commonly known as the femur, and it is the most prominent and widest part of the hip.
2. What bone is the trochanter on?
- Trochanter is on femur. It is a bony prominence toward the near end of the thighbone or femur. There are two trochanters: the greater trochanter and the lesser trochanter, which is located on the femur.
3. What is the role of the trochanter?
- Greater trochanter is the attachment site for five muscles while lesser trochanter serves as the principal insertion site of the iliopsoas muscle. They help to reduce mechanical stress in the body.
4. What is the difference between a tubercle and a trochanter?
- Trochanter is a large protrusion of the femurnear its joint with the hip bone while tubercle is a small protrusion in humerous and tibia that serves as an attachment for skeletal muscles.
5. What is a tubercle in anatomy?
- A tubercle is a small rounded point or protrusion of a bone. It also refers to a nodule attached to bone, mucous membrane or skin. In bones, it is often the site of muscle or ligament attachment.
Reference:
1. “Trochanter.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation.
2. “Tubercle (Bone).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Image from page 217 of “Anatomy, descriptive and applied” (1913)” By Internet Archive Book Images (Public Domain) via Flickr
2. “Lesser-Tubercle-of-Right-Humerus” By Doctor Jana –(CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia