In human anatomy, the thigh is the area between the hip (pelvis) and the knee.

Anatomically, it is part of the lower limb.[1]

The single bone in the thigh is called the femur. This bone is very thick and
strong (due to the high proportion of bone tissue), and forms a ball and socket
joint at the hip, and a modified hinge joint at the knee.

The femur is the only bone in the thigh and serves for an attachment site for all
muscles in the thigh. The head of the femur articulates with the acetabulum in
the pelvic bone forming the hip joint, while the distal part of the femur
articulates with the tibia and patella forming the knee. By most measures the
femur is the strongest bone in the body. The femur is also the longest bone in
the body.[2]

The femur is categorised as a long bone and comprises a diaphysis, the shaft
(or body) and two epiphysis or extremities that articulate with adjacent bones
in the hip and knee.[3]

In cross-section, the thigh is divided up into three separate compartments,

divided by fascia, each containing muscles. These compartments use the femur
as an axis, and are separated by tough connective tissue membranes (or
septa). Each of these compartments has its own blood and nerve supply, and
contains a different group of muscles.

 Medial fascial compartment of thigh, adductor

 Posterior fascial compartment of thigh, flexion, hamstring
 Anterior fascial compartment of thigh, extension

Anterior compartment muscles of the thigh include sartorius, and the four
muscles that comprise the quadriceps muscles- rectus femoris, vastus medialis,
vastus intermedius and vastus lateralis.

Posterior compartment muscles of the thigh are the hamstring muscles, which
include semimembranosus, semitendinosus, and biceps femoris.

Medial compartment muscles are pectineus, adductor magnus, adductor

longus and adductor brevis, and also gracilis.

Because the major muscles of the thigh are the largest muscles of the body,
resistance exercises (strength training) of them stimulate blood flow more than
any other localized activity.[4]
The arterial supply is by the femoral artery and the obturator artery. The
lymphatic drainage closely follows the arterial supply and drains to the lumbar
lymphatic trunks on the corresponding side, which in turn drains to the
cisterna chyli.

The deep venous system of the thigh consists of the femoral vein, the proximal
part of the popliteal vein, and various smaller vessels; these are the site of
proximal deep venous thrombosis. The venae perfortantes connect the deep
and the superficial system, which consists of the saphenous veins (the site of
varicose veins).