trochanter trochanter 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. humans are known to have three trochanters, though the anatomic "normal" includes only the greater and lesser trochanters. (the third trochanter is not present in all specimens.) trochanterupper part of right femur viewed from behind and above, showing greater and lesser trochanterdetailsidentifierslatintrochanterfma82513anatomical terminology etymology "trokhos" (greek) = "wheel", with reference to the spherical femoral head which was first named "trokhanter". later usage came to include the femoral neck. structure in human anatomy, the trochanter is a part of the femur. it can refer to: greater trochanter lesser trochanter third trochanter, which is occasionally present other animals fourth trochanter, of archosaur leg bones trochanter (arthropod leg), a segment of the arthropod leg