A trochanter is a tubercle of the femur near its joint with the hip bone. In humans and most mammals, the trochanters serve as important muscle attachment sites.

What is the greater trochanter used for?

The greater trochanter is the attachment site for five muscles: the gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, piriformis, obturator externus, and obturator internus. Overloading the “rotator cuff of the hip” can result in trochanteric bursitis, gluteus medius/minimus tendinopathy, and/or snapping iliotibial band (ITB) syndrome.

What is trochanter in anatomy?

1 : a rough prominence at the upper part of the femur of many vertebrates serving usually for the attachment of muscles.