Image: Leg of a modern human

This illustration show the leg bones of a modern Homo sapien. The structure of the femur is that of an upright walker or bipedal animal. The ball joint, the part that joins the pelvis, sits directly over the outside of the knee. The angle subtended by the femur at the knee in bipedal walkers is greater than that of quadrupedal walkers. This results in the inner bump of the knee joint being longer than the outer bump.
 

Illustrator:

Helen Beare

Rights:

© Australian Museum

Last Updated: 19 October 2009