The invention relates to a shaft for a femoral neck prosthesis, which comprises an anchoring area (27, 29) which is arranged inside the femur in order to anchor the prosthesis into bone, a head area which is axially adjacent to the anchoring area (27, 29) on the proximal side, said head area comprising a device (13) which is connected to the prosthesis head (15), in addition to a distal end which is arranged opposite the head area in the axial direction of the anchoring area (27, 29). The invention is characterised in that the maximum cross-sectional dimension of the head area is at the most equal and, in particular, smaller than the maximum diameter of the anchoring area (27, 29), in such a manner that the maximum cross-sectional dimension of the shaft (11) is in the anchoring area (27, 29).