Iron, ethical related to the thigh? (7)

I believe the answer is:

femoral

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'related to the thigh?' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'iron ethical' is the wordplay.
'iron' becomes 'Fe' (Fe is the chemical symbol for iron).
'ethical' becomes 'moral' (synonyms).
'fe'+'moral'='FEMORAL'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for femoral that I've seen before include "Relating to the thigh bone" , "Of the thigh artery" , "Lor, fame can relate to the thigh" , "Of or near the thighbone" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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