[TA] a ridge running down the posterior surface of the shaft of the femur from the lesser trochanter to which the pectineus muscle attaches; continuous superiorly with intertrochanteric line and merges inferiorly with the spiral line of the femur to form the medial lip of the linea aspera. SYN: linea pectinea femoris [TA].

The pectineal line of the femur is a ridge-like projection that runs along the anterior (front) surface of the femur bone in the thigh. It starts at the base of the lesser trochanter, which is a small bony protrusion on the femur, and extends to the upper end of the linea aspera, which is another ridge on the posterior surface of the femur.

The pectineal line serves as a site of attachment for several muscles, including the pectineus muscle, which is a small muscle located in the groin region. Other muscles that attach to the pectineal line include the iliacus muscle, which is a large muscle that originates from the ilium bone in the pelvis, and the adductor longus muscle, which is located on the medial (inner) side of the thigh.

The pectineal line also forms part of the medial border of the femoral triangle, which is a triangular-shaped space located at the anterior aspect of the thigh. The femoral triangle contains important structures such as the femoral artery, femoral vein, and femoral nerve, which are all located deep to the muscles of the thigh.