Trochlea

Trochlea is a term used in anatomy to describe a structure that resembles a pulley. It is derived from the Greek word "trokhileia", which means pulley. The term is used to describe several different structures in the human body, each of which has a unique function and location.

Trochlea of the Humerus

The trochlea of the humerus is a part of the humerus bone in the upper arm. It is a grooved, spool-shaped structure located at the lower end of the humerus. The trochlea of the humerus articulates with the ulna, one of the bones in the forearm, to form the elbow joint.

Trochlea of the Femur

The trochlea of the femur is a part of the femur bone in the upper leg. It is a grooved, spool-shaped structure located at the lower end of the femur. The trochlea of the femur articulates with the patella, or kneecap, to form the knee joint.

Trochlea of the Superior Oblique

The trochlea of the superior oblique is a part of the eye's anatomy. It is a cartilaginous loop located in the front part of the orbit, through which the tendon of the superior oblique muscle passes. This structure allows the superior oblique muscle to change its direction of pull on the eyeball, enabling the eye to rotate in its socket.

Trochlea Tali

The trochlea tali is a part of the talus bone in the foot. It is a dome-shaped structure located at the upper surface of the talus. The trochlea tali articulates with the tibia and fibula, the two bones in the lower leg, to form the ankle joint.

See Also

• Anatomy
• Humerus
• Femur
• Eye
• Talus