femur – the bone within the thigh

(Pronounced fee-mer)

To remember the meaning of femur, remember to associate it with the thigh and use the following mnemonic:

It isn't easy to run around the field when you're a mermaid (femur), because you don't have powerful thighs. 

The femur is the longest, strongest and heaviest bone in the human body, extending from the hip to the knee and forming the upper portion of the leg. This bone plays a crucial role in supporting the body's weight and enabling movement, as it must withstand enormous forces during activities like walking, running, and jumping. At its upper end, the femur has a rounded head that fits into the hip bone, forming a ball-and-socket joint that allows for a wide range of leg movements. The lower end of the bone articulates with the tibia (shin bone) and patella (kneecap) to form the knee joint. 

The femur serves as an attachment point for many of the body's largest and most powerful muscles, including the quadriceps muscles at the front of the thigh, and the hamstring muscles at the back. The bone is also slightly bowed to properly distribute the stress of walking or running through the leg.