Final answer:
A trochanter is a large, irregularly-shaped projection on the femur that serves as a point of muscle attachment and leverage across the hip joint.
Step-by-step explanation:
A trochanter is a large, irregularly-shaped projection found on the femur. Specifically, the greater trochanter is a significant, bony projection that extends superiorly from the base of the femoral neck, playing a crucial role in muscle attachment and leverage across the hip joint. In contrast, the lesser trochanter is a smaller prominence on the medial side of the femur, just below the neck, that also serves as a muscle attachment point. These trochanters are connected by the intertrochanteric crest on the posterior side and the intertrochanteric line on the anterior side of the femur.