The medial is less marked, especially at its upper part, where it is crossed by the femoral artery. It ends below at the summit of the medial condyle, in a small tubercle, the adductor tubercle, which affords insertion to the tendon of the adductor magnus.
Development
The tension generated by muscle attached to the bones is responsible for the formation of the ridges.
Function
A number of muscles attach to the linea aspera:
From the medial lip of the linea aspera and its prolongations above and below, the vastus medialis muscle originates.
12White, Tim D.; Black, Michael T.; Folkens, Pieter A. (2012-01-01), "Chapter 12 - Leg: Femur, Patella, Tibia, and Fibula", in White, Tim D.; Black, Michael T.; Folkens, Pieter A. (eds.), Human Osteology (Third Edition), San Diego: Academic Press, pp.241–270, doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-374134-9.50012-x, ISBN978-0-12-374134-9, retrieved 2021-02-18