Thigh facts for kids

The thigh is an important part of your human leg. It's the area between your hip (which is part of your pelvis) and your knee. It helps you stand, walk, run, and jump!

The Femur: Thigh's Main Bone

The thigh has only one bone, and it's a very special one called the femur. The femur is the longest and strongest bone in your entire body! It's built to handle a lot of weight and pressure.

How the Femur Connects

At your hip, the top of the femur fits into a ball and socket joint. Think of it like a ball (the top of your femur) fitting into a cup (part of your hip bone). This type of joint lets your leg move in many directions, like swinging it forward, backward, or to the side.

At your knee, the bottom of the femur connects to your lower leg bones with a hinge joint. This joint works like the hinge on a door, mostly allowing your leg to bend and straighten. It's super important for activities like walking and running.

Muscles of the Thigh

Your thigh is packed with powerful muscles. These muscles are divided into different groups. They work together to help you move your leg in many ways.

Front Thigh Muscles

On the front of your thigh, you have muscles that help you straighten your knee. These are often called the quadriceps muscles. They are very important for kicking, jumping, and standing up.

Back Thigh Muscles

On the back of your thigh, you have muscles that help you bend your knee. These are known as the hamstring muscles. They also help you move your leg backward at the hip.

Inner Thigh Muscles

On the inside of your thigh, there are muscles that help you bring your legs together. These are called the adductor muscles. They are useful for activities like riding a horse or closing your legs.

Why the Thigh is Important

The thigh is a key part of your body for movement. Its strong bone and powerful muscles allow you to do many physical activities. Keeping your thigh muscles strong and flexible helps you stay active and healthy.

Images for kids

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  A diagram showing the human thigh.

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  Front of thigh muscles from Gray's Anatomy of the human body from 1918.

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  Back thigh muscles of the gluteal and posterior femoral regions from Gray's Anatomy of the human body from 1918.

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  Cross-section through the middle of the thigh.

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  Also showing major blood vessels and nerves.

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  The Obturator externus

See also

In Spanish: Muslo para niños