Iliofemoral is a medical term that refers to the joint connecting the hip bone and the thigh bone. The word is spelled "ili-o-fe-mor-al" and is pronounced with the IPA phonetic transcription /ɪliofɪmɔːrəl/. The term is derived from three individual words, "ilio-" meaning pertaining to the ilium bone of the pelvis, "femor" referring to the femur bone of the thigh, and "-al" indicating a suffix pertaining to. Together, these words describe the joint that connects the ilium and femur bones.
Iliofemoral is an adjective that pertains to or relates to the junction between the ilium and the femur, which are bones located in the pelvic region and the thigh, respectively. The term "iliac" specifically refers to the ilium bone, which forms the upper part of the hip bone. The term "femoral" is derived from the femur, the long bone in the thigh that extends from the hip to the knee. Consequently, when combined as "iliofemoral," the term describes a specific anatomical relationship or location where the ilium and the femur are connected.
In medical contexts, the term "iliofemoral" is most commonly used to describe the iliopsoas muscle, as it pertains to its attachment on the femur bone. The iliopsoas muscle is a powerful hip flexor that consists of two main muscles - the psoas major and the iliacus muscle. The iliacus muscle originates from the iliac fossa, a concave area located on the inner side of the ilium bone, while the psoas major originates from the lumbar vertebrae. Both muscles combine to form a tendon that attaches to the lesser trochanter of the femur, forming the iliopsoas tendon.
This term is also occasionally used to describe other structures in the iliofemoral region, such as ligaments, joints, or blood vessels that are associated with the junction between the ilium and femur bones.
Relating to the ilium and the femur.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "Iliofemoral" is primarily composed of two anatomical terms - "ilio" and "femoral" - which are derived from Latin and Greek respectively.
"Ilio" is derived from the Latin word "ilium" which means "the flank bone" or "hip bone". It refers to the part of the pelvic bone located in the upper and outer regions of the pelvis.
"Femoral" originates from the Greek word "thigh", which directly translates to "femur" in Latin. The term "femur" refers to the long bone located in the upper leg, between the hip and the knee.
So, when combined, "Iliofemoral" refers to the anatomical region around the hip or the connection between the ilium and femur.