Tibia Bone Anatomy, Pictures & Definition | Body Maps Your message has been sent. OK We're sorry, an error occurred. We are unable to collect your feedback at this time. However, your feedback is important to us. Please try again later. Close Tibia The tibia is a large bone located in the lower front portion of the leg. The tibia is also known as the shinbone, and is the second largest bone in the body. There are two bones in the shin area: the tibia and fibula, or calf bone. The fibula is smaller and thinner than the tibia. These two bones connect the ankle to the knee and work together to stabilize the ankle and provide support to the muscles of the lower leg; however, the tibia carries a significant portion of the body weight. Fibula Bone Anatomy, Function & Function | Body Maps Your message has been sent. OK We're sorry, an error occurred. We are unable to collect your feedback at this time. However, your feedback is important to us. Please try again later. Close Fibula The fibula is the name of one of the paired bones within the lower leg of humans.

The other, the tibia, is much thicker, and the fibula connects to it by means of both appropriate articulation and ligaments. Some tendons are contained within two major grooves at the distal, or bottom, end of the fibula (the lateral malleolus). These grooves redirect force on the joint, allowing less impact to be passed on to the tendons, and thereby minimizing damage. The way that the two bones in the lower leg are positioned means that the fibula does not reach up as far as the knee joint; rather, its lower portion, including the specialized groove and tendon mechanism, forms part of the ankle joint, allowing for stability in movement. This is due to the fibula's major role as an anchor point for the various muscles and ligaments of the leg and ankle. The fibula is not a structural bone and it is positioned on the outer edge of the lower leg. As a result, it is sometimes used as donor stock for bone grafts.

What are the Leg Bones of the Human Body| Bones of the Leg | Learn Bones What are the Leg Bones of the Human Body| Bones of the Leg What are the Leg Bones of the Human Body| Bones of the Leg Where and What are the Leg Bones in the Human Body The human leg consists of 8 bones, 4 per leg. The leg's main function in the human is for locomotion and support of the rest of the body. The leg extends from just below the pelvic girdle to the ankle. The entire region below the pelvic girdle, including the feet, is known as the lower extremity. Below are detailed descriptions and diagrams of the leg bones. Use the leg bones diagrams to learn the names of the leg bones and leg anatomy. To learn more about the anatomy of the human body CLICK HERE List of all Leg and Thigh Bones The Femur | Leg Bone The femur, also known as the thigh bone, is the longest bone of the human skeleton located in between the hip bone and the knee. This bone is one of the strongest bones in the human skeleton and functions in supporting the weight of the body and allowing motion of the lower extremity. A femur bone is found in each leg.

The femur makes up part of the hip joint and knee joint. Additionally, the femur consists of four parts: the head, greater trochanter, lesser trochanter, and the lower extremity. It is clear that the femur plays a vital role in walking/running and the femur is one of the more common bones that people can identify. Patella The patella, also known as the knee cap, is a triangular shaped bone found between the femur and fibula. The patella is found on each leg and it's primary function is protection of the knee joint. Furthermore, it also allows for increased knee movement and extension. The patella is the largest sesamoid bone in the body. A sesamoid bone is a bone that is embedded within a tendon. Additionally, the patella is a relatively thick bone consisting of posterior and anterior sides. Tibia The tibia, also known as the shinbone, is a long bone of the lower leg. The tibia is found between the patella and the ankle. Like the femur, the tibia bears much of the body's weight and also plays an essential role in movement and locomotion.

The tibia is found in each leg and thus accounts for two bones in the total human skeletal system. In males, the tibia is relatively vertical whereas in females, the tibia is more slanted to account for wider hips in females. Additionally, the tibia is the second largest bone in the human skeleton, following the femur. Fibula The fibula, also known as the calfbone, is a long bone of the lower leg running parallel to the tibia. This bone is found in between the patella and the ankle. Although the fibula is thinner than the other leg bones, the fibula still plays a role in supporting the body's weight and allowing movement. The fibula is found on each leg. To learn more detail about the leg bones CLICK HERE and you will find a remarkable resource. Fibula Anatomy and Function Full Fibula Description [Continued from above] . . . At the fibula’s proximal end, just below the knee, is a slightly rounded enlargement known as the head of the fibula. The head of the fibula forms the proximal (superior) tibiofibular joint with the lateral edge of the tibia.

From the proximal tibiofibular joint, the fibula extends slightly medially and anteriorly in a straight line toward the ankle. Upon reaching the ankle, the fibula swells into a bony knob known as the lateral malleolus, which can be seen and felt protruding from the outside of the ankle joint. At the medial malleolus, the fibula forms the distal (inferior) tibiofibular joint with the tibia and also the talocrural (ankle) joint with the tibia and talus of the foot. While the fibula moves very little relative to the tibia, the joints that it forms contribute significantly to the function of the lower leg. The proximal and distal tibiofibular joints permit the fibula to adjust its position relative to the tibia, increasing the range of motion of the ankle. The lateral malleolus also forms the lateral wall of the talocrural joint and reinforces the ankle joint. Many muscles of the thigh and lower leg attach to the fibula through tendons.

One of the hamstrings, the biceps femoris muscle, has its insertion at the head of the fibula and pulls on the fibula to flex the leg at the knee. Eight other muscles – including the three fibularis (peroneus) muscles, the soleus, and several flexors and extensors of the toes – have their origins on the fibula as well. An interesting fact about the fibula is that it can be harvested for tissue to graft onto other bones in the body. The fibula bears so little body weight that it typically has more bone mass than is needed to support the leg, making it a good tissue donor. The bony tissue harvested from the fibula is most commonly grafted onto the mandible to replace bone lost during oral cancer surgery. Skin and blood vessels covering the fibula are grafted along with the osseous (bone) tissue to maintain blood supply to the bone and to close the wound in the face. The remaining tissue in the leg can be sutured together to heal around the donor site. Prepared by Tim Taylor, Anatomy and Physiology Instructor Fibula - Anatomy and Pathology | Kenhub Fibula Contents Introduction The fibula is one of two long bones in the lower leg.

A long bone is defined as one whose body is longer than it is wide, with growth plates (epiphysis) at either end, having a hard outer surface of compact bone and a spongy inner surface known as cencellous bone containing bone marrow. Both ends of the bone are covered in hyaline cartilage to help protect the bone and aid in shock absorption. The fibula is much more slender than the tibia and is not directly involved in weight transmission. It has a proximal head, a narrow neck, a long shaft and a distal lateral malleolus. Recommended video: Bones and ligaments of lower leg Bones, ligaments and joints of the knee and the lower leg. Interaction with the tibia The fibula and tibia are the two long bones of the lower leg and run parallel to each other. They are similar in length but the fibula is much thinner than the tibia. This is suggestive of the weight bearing contributions of each bone. For example the thicker tibia has much greater role in weight bearing than the fibula. The tibia and fibula articulate through two joints - the superior and inferior tibiofibular joints.

The superior tibiofibular joint is a synovial plane joint with the transverse joint line spanning the lateral tibial condyle and the medial fibular head. The capsule is thickened anteriorly and posteriorly and joins with the anterior ligament, relating closely to the tendon of biceps femoris . The inferior tibiofibular joint is a syndesmosis joint, just above the ankle region which lies between the medial distal end of the fibula and the concave fibular notch region of the tibia. The distal end of the joint has a 4 mm separation from the prolongation of the ankle joint. There is no fibrous capsule surrounding this joint but there is a flat band of ligament named the anterior tibiofibular ligament which descends laterally between the two leg bones. The tibia and fibula also articulate via an interosseous membrane known as the middle tibiofibular ligament. This ligament extends through the fibula’s and tibia's interosseous crests and separates the muscles in the back of the leg from the muscles located in the front of the leg.

It is made of an aponeurotic lamina, which is thin and made of oblique fibres. Bony Landmarks The head of the fibula is irregular in shape and directed upward, forward, and medialward. A round facet on its proximomedial aspect articulates with the corresponding facet on the inferolateral surface of the lateral tibial condyle. The inclination of this facet can vary among individuals from almost horizontal to an angle of 45 degrees. The styloid process is a palpable bony prominence located about 2 cm distal to the knee joint . The fibular collateral ligament attaches just in front of this and the tibiofibular capsular ligament attaches to the margins of the articular facet. A nerve (the common fibular nerve) passes over the head of the fibula and can be rolled against the bony fibula; this can be sensitive on palpation. The shaft of the fibula has four borders and four surfaces each corresponding to a particular group of muscles.

The antero-lateral border begins above in front of the head, runs vertically downward to a little below the middle of the bone, and then curving somewhat lateralward, bifurcates so as to embrace a triangular subcutaneous surface immediately above the lateral malleolus. This border gives attachment to an intermuscular septum, which separates the Extensor muscles on the anterior surface of the leg from the Peroneus longus and Peroneus brevis on the lateral surface. The antero-medial border, or interosseous crest, is situated close to the medial side of the preceding, and runs nearly parallel with it in the upper third of its extent, but diverges from it in the lower two-thirds. It begins above just beneath the head of the bone (sometimes it is quite indistinct for about 2.5 cm. below the head), and ends at the apex of a rough triangular surface immediately above the articular facet of the lateral malleolus. It serves for the attachment of the interosseous membrane, which separates the Extensor muscles in front from the Flexor muscles behind.

The postero-lateral border is prominent; it begins above at the apex, and ends below in the posterior border of the lateral malleolus. It is directed lateralward above, backward in the middle of its course, backward, and a little medialward below, and gives attachment to an aponeurosis which separates the Peronei on the lateral surface from the Flexor muscles on the posterior surface. The postero-medial border, sometimes called the oblique line, begins above at the medial side of the head, and ends by becoming continuous with the interosseous crest at the lower fourth of the bone. It is well-marked and prominent at the upper and middle parts of the bone. It gives attachment to an aponeurosis which separates the Tibialis posterior from the Soleus and Flexor hallucis longus . The anterior surface is the interval between the antero-lateral and antero-medial borders. It is extremely narrow and flat in the upper third of its extent; broader and grooved longitudinally in its lower third; it serves for the origin of three muscles: the Extensor digitorum longus , Extensor hallucis longus , and Peroneus tertius .

The posterior surface is the space included between the postero-lateral and the postero-medial borders; it is continuous below with the triangular area above the articular surface of the lateral malleolus; it is directed backward above, backward and medialward at its middle, directly medialward below. Its upper third is rough, for the origin of the Soleus; its lower part presents a triangular surface, connected to the tibia by a strong interosseous ligament; the intervening part of the surface is covered by the fibers of origin of the Flexor hallucis longus. Near the middle of this surface is the nutrient foramen, which is directed downward. The medial surface is the interval included between the antero-medial and the postero-medial borders. It is grooved for the origin of the Tibialis posterior. The lateral surface is the space between the antero-lateral and postero-lateral borders. It is broad, and often deeply grooved; it is directed lateralward in the upper two-thirds of its course, backward in the lower third, where it is continuous with the posterior border of the lateral malleolus. This surface gives origin to the Peronei longus and brevis.

Muscle attachment In front of the styloid process, the biceps femoris embraces the fibular collateral ligament. Extensor digitorum longus is attached to the head anteriorly, while fibularis longus attaches anterolaterally and soleus posteriorly. Extensor digitorum longus, extensor hallucis longus and fibularis tertius are attached to the extensor surface. Muscle attachments to the posterior surface are complex. Between the crest and interosseous border is a concave posterior surface to which is attached the tibialis posterior. An intramuscular tendon may ridge the bone obliquely. Soleus attaches between the crest and posterior border on the proximal fourth of the posterior surface, its tendinous arch is attached to the surface proximally. Flexor hallucis longus attaches distally to soleus on the posterior surface almost reaching the distal end of the shaft. Pathology Fractures of the long bones of the lower leg are fairly common but fibula shaft fractures usually occur in combination with a tibial fracture or in isolation as the result of a direct blow or from twisting actions.

The fibula is less commonly fractured as it is not the main weight bearing bone in the lower leg. As the tibia transmits most of the weight then it is more commonly fractured. Proximal fibular injuries may cause damage to the common peroneal nerve, causing weakness of ankle dorsiflexion and reduced sensation in the lateral aspect of the forefoot. Stress fractures of the fibula are relatively common, typically affecting the fibular neck of military recruits and athletes following vigorous training. A Maisonneuve fracture occurs when transmitted forces fracture the proximal fibula following an ankle injury. This usually involves fracture of the medial malleolus, of the proximal fibula or fibular shaft and damage to the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis. Rickets is a disease of the growing long bones of the leg that affects children and adolescents. It is caused by the failure of osteoid to calcify in a growing person. Vitamin D-deficiency rickets occurs when the metabolites of vitamin D are deficient. Less commonly, a dietary deficiency of calcium or phosphorus may also cause this disease.

Get me the rest of this article for free Create your account and you’ll be able to see the rest of this article, plus videos and a quiz to help you memorize the information, all for free. You’ll also get access to articles, videos, and quizzes about dozens of other anatomy systems. References: Sandstring, S. (ed.) (2008) Grey’s Anatomy, 40th edition, London: Churchill Livingstone, Chapter 83 leg, (page 1415) Sandstring, S. (ed.) (2008) Grey’s Anatomy, 40th edition, London: Churchill Livingstone, Chapter 84 Ankle and Foot, (page 1444) BBC Science & Nature - Human Body and Mind - Skeleton Layer Thighbone: Is the longest, largest, strongest bone in your body Kneecap: Is embedded in your quadriceps muscle Long and strong Your leg bones are the longest and strongest bones in your body. When you stand or walk, all the weight of your upper body rests on them. Each leg is made up of four bones. The three long bones are your femur, your tibia and your fibula.

The fourth bone is your small patella, which is better known as the kneecap. Your femur, or thighbone, is the largest bone in your body. The head of your femur fits into your hip socket and the bottom end connects to your knee. The two bones beneath your knee that make up your shin are your tibia and fibula. Your upper and lower leg are connected by a hinge joint. Your patella, or kneecap, rests on the front of your femur. The bones of your leg have roughened patches on their surfaces where muscles are attached. When your muscles contract, they pull the bone they're attached to, making your leg move. The Tibia - Human Anatomy FIG. 257 Upper surface of right tibia. (Shin Bone) The tibia (Figs. 258, 259) is situated at the medial side of the leg, and, excepting the femur, is the longest bone of the skeleton. It is prismoid in form, expanded above, where it enters into the knee-joint, contracted in the lower third, and again enlarged but to a lesser extent below.

In the male, its direction is vertical, and parallel with the bone of the opposite side; but in the female it has a slightly oblique direction downward and lateralward, to compensate for the greater obliquity of the femur. It has a body and two extremities. The Upper Extremity (proximal extremity).The upper extremity is large, and expanded into two eminences, the medial and lateral condyles. The superior articular surface presents two smooth articular facets (Fig. 257). The medial facet, oval in shape, is slightly concave from side to side, and from before backward. The lateral, nearly circular, is concave from side to side, but slightly convex from before backward, especially at its posterior part, where it is prolonged on to the posterior surface for a short distance. The central portions of these facets articulate with the condyles of the femur, while their peripheral portions support the menisci of the knee-joint, which here intervene between the two bones.

Between the articular facets, but nearer the posterior than the anterior aspect of the bone, is the intercondyloid eminence (spine of tibia), surmounted on either side by a prominent tubercle, on to the sides of which the articular facets are prolonged; in front of and behind the intercondyloid eminence are rough depressions for the attachment of the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments and the menisci. The anterior surfaces of the condyles are continuous with one another, forming a large somewhat flattened area; this area is triangular, broad above, and perforated by large vascular foramina; narrow below where it ends in a large oblong elevation, the tuberosity of the tibia, which gives attachment to the ligamentum patellæ; a bursa intervenes between the deep surface of the ligament and the part of the bone immediately above the tuberosity. Posteriorly, the condyles are separated from each other by a shallow depression, the posterior intercondyloid fossa, which gives attachment to part of the posterior cruciate ligament of the knee-joint.

The medial condyle presents posteriorly a deep transverse groove, for the insertion of the tendon of the Semimembranosus. Its medial surface is convex, rough, and prominent; it gives attachment to the tibial collateral ligament. The lateral condyle presents posteriorly a flat articular facet, nearly circular in form, directed downward, backward, and lateralward, for articulation with the head of the fibula. Its lateral surface is convex, rough, and prominent in front: on it is an eminence, situated on a level with the upper border of the tuberosity and at the junction of its anterior and lateral surfaces, for the attachment of the iliotibial band. Just below this a part of the Extensor digitorum longus takes origin and a slip from the tendon of the Biceps femoris is inserted. The Body or Shaft (corpus tibiæ).The body has three borders and three surfaces. Borders.The anterior crest or border, the most prominent of the three, commences above at the tuberosity, and ends below at the anterior margin of the medial malleolus.

It is sinuous and prominent in the upper two-thirds of its extent, but smooth and rounded below; it gives attachment to the deep fascia of the leg. The medial border is smooth and rounded above and below, but more prominent in the center; it begins at the back part of the medial condyle, and ends at the posterior border of the medial malleolus; its upper part gives attachment to the tibial collateral ligament of the knee-joint to the extent of about 5 cm., and insertion to some fibers of the Popliteus; from its middle third some fibers of the Soleus and Flexor digitorum longus take origin. The interosseous crest or lateral border is thin and prominent, especially its central part, and gives attachment to the interosseous membrane; it commences above in front of the fibular articular facet, and bifurcates below, to form the boundaries of a triangular rough surface, for the attachment of the interosseous ligament connecting the tibia and fibula. FIG. 258 Bones of the right leg. Anterior surface.

Surfaces.The medial surface is smooth, convex, and broader above than below; its upper third, directed forward and medialward, is covered by the aponeurosis derived from the tendon of the Sartorius, and by the tendons of the Gracilis and Semitendinosus, all of which are inserted nearly as far forward as the anterior crest; in the rest of its extent it is subcutaneous. The lateral surface is narrower than the medial; its upper two-thirds present a shallow groove for the origin of the Tibialis anterior; its lower third is smooth, convex, curves gradually forward to the anterior aspect of the bone, and is covered by the tendons of the Tibialis anterior, Extensor hallucis longus, and Extensor digitorum longus, arranged in this order from the medial side. FIG. 259 Bones of the right leg. Posterior surface. The posterior surface (Fig.

259) presents, at its upper part, a prominent ridge, the popliteal line, which extends obliquely downward from the back part of the articular facet for the fibula to the medial border, at the junction of its upper and middle thirds; it marks the lower limit of the insertion of the Popliteus, serves for the attachment of the fascia covering this muscle, and gives origin to part of the Soleus, Flexor digitorum longus, and Tibialis posterior. The triangular area, above this line, gives insertion to the Popliteus. The middle third of the posterior surface is divided by a vertical ridge into two parts; the ridge begins at the popliteal line and is well-marked above, but indistinct below; the medial and broader portion gives origin to the Flexor digitorum longus, the lateral and narrower to part of the Tibialis posterior. The remaining part of the posterior surface is smooth and covered by the Tibialis posterior, Flexor digitorum longus, and Flexor hallucis longus. Immediately below the popliteal line is the nutrient foramen, which is large and directed obliquely downward.

The Lower Extremity (distal extremity).The lower extremity, much smaller than the upper, presents five surfaces; it is prolonged downward on its medial side as a strong process, the medial malleolus. Surfaces.The inferior articular surface is quadrilateral, and smooth for articulation with the talus. It is concave from before backward, broader in front than behind, and traversed from before backward by a slight elevation, separating two depressions. It is continuous with that on the medial malleolus. FIG. 260 Plan of ossification of the tibia. From three centers. FIG. 261 Epiphysial lines of tibia and fibula in a young adult. Anterior aspect. The anterior surface of the lower extremity is smooth and rounded above, and covered by the tendons of the Extensor muscles; its lower margin presents a rough transverse depression for the attachment of the articular capsule of the ankle-joint.

The posterior surface is traversed by a shallow groove directed obliquely downward and medialward, continuous with a similar groove on the posterior surface of the talus and serving for the passage of the tendon of the Flexor hallucis longus. The lateral surface presents a triangular rough depression for the attachment of the inferior interosseous ligament connecting it with the fibula; the lower part of this depression is smooth, covered with cartilage in the fresh state, and articulates with the fibula. The surface is bounded by two prominent borders, continuous above with the interosseous crest; they afford attachment to the anterior and posterior ligaments of the lateral malleolus. The medial surface is prolonged downward to form a strong pyramidal process, flattened from without inwardthe medial malleolus.

The medial surface of this process is convex and subcutaneous; its lateral or articular surface is smooth and slightly concave, and articulates with the talus; its anterior border is rough, for the attachment of the anterior fibers of the deltoid ligament of the ankle-joint; its posterior border presents a broad groove, the malleolar sulcus, directed obliquely downward and medialward, and occasionally double; this sulcus lodges the tendons of the Tibialis posterior and Flexor digitorum longus. The summit of the medial malleolus is marked by a rough depression behind, for the attachment of the deltoid ligament. Structure.The structure of the tibia is like that of the other long bones. The compact wall of the body is thickest at the junction of the middle and lower thirds of the bone. Ossification.The tibia is ossified from three centers (Figs. 260, 261): one for the body and one for either extremity. Ossification begins in the center of the body, about the seventh week of fetal life, and gradually extends toward the extremities.

The center for the upper epiphysis appears before or shortly after birth; it is flattened in form, and has a thin tongue-shaped process in front, which forms the tuberosity (Fig. 260); that for the lower epiphysis appears in the second year. The lower epiphysis joins the body at about the eighteenth, and the upper one joins about the twentieth year. Two additional centers occasionally exist, one for the tongue-shaped process of the upper epiphysis, which forms the tuberosity, and one for the medial malleolus. Bones of the Leg and Foot | Interactive Anatomy Guide Home > Skeletal System > Bones of the Leg and Foot Bones of the Leg and Foot The bones of the leg and foot form part of the appendicular skeleton that supports the many muscles of the lower limbs. These muscles work together to produce movements such as standing, walking, running, and jumping. At the same time, the bones and joints of the leg and foot must be strong enough to support the body’s weight while remaining flexible enough for movement and balance. The femur, or thigh bone, is the largest, heaviest, and strongest bone in the human body....

Move up/down/left/right: Click compass arrows Rotate image: Click and drag in any direction, anywhere in the frame Identify objects: Click on them in the image Bones: Leg and Foot, Posterior (Back) Full Bones of the Leg and Foot Description [Continued from above] . . . Many strong thigh muscles attach to the femur and pull on the femur during movements of the hip and knee joints. At the proximal end of the femur is a rounded prominence known as the head of the femur. The head of the femur forms the ball and socket hip joint with the acetabulum of the hip bone. The hip joint gives the leg an incredible range of motion while still providing support to the body’s weight. At the distal end of the femur, two rounded condyles meet the tibia and fibula bones of the lower leg to form the knee joint. The knee is a strong but flexible hinge joint that uses muscles and ligaments to withstand the torques and strains of powerful leg movements. Between the femur and tibia is the meniscus, a layer of tough fibrocartilage that acts as a shock absorber.

In the lower leg, the tibia bears most of the body’s weight while the fibula supports the muscles of balance in the lower leg and ankle. The tibia forms the flexible ankle joint with the tarsal bones of the foot. Body weight is distributed among the seven tarsals, which can shift slightly to provide minute adjustments to the position of the ankle and foot. The calcaneus, or heel bone, is the largest tarsal bone and rests on the ground when the body is standing. The tarsal bones and the five long metatarsal bones together form the arches of the foot. Body weight supported by the foot is spread across the arches from the tarsal and metatarsal bones, which make contact with the ground while standing. Like the tarsal bones, the position of the metatarsals can be adjusted to change the shape of the foot and affect balance and posture of the body. Extending from the distal end of the metatarsals are the tiny phalanges of the toes. The phalanges connect to several muscles in the leg via long tendons.

The phalanges can flex or extend to change the shape of the foot for balance, and provide added leverage to the foot during walking. Prepared by Tim Taylor, Anatomy and Physiology Instructor Tibia - Anatomy and Pathology | Kenhub Tibia Contents Overview The tibia, or the shin bone, is a long bone articulating superiorly with the inferior articulating surfaces of the femur , and with the talus inferiorly. The tibia hangs down the medial surface of the talus and forms the medial malleolus. It is the second largest bone in the body after the femur and its size results from the heavy weight distribution that is required of it. The tibia is a long bone, which means it has a hard outer surface known as compact bone, with a mesh-like interior called cancellous bone, designed to take pressure from multiple angles. It is also useful to note that the cancellous bone contains bone marrow that produces red blood cells. Recommended video: Bones and ligaments of lower leg Bones, ligaments and joints of the knee and the lower leg. Interaction with the fibula There is a special articulation with the fibula bone that runs parallel to the tibia.

Compared to the tibia, the fibula is the same length but thinner. This suggests a difference in the weight bearing demands of the two bones. Some sources say there is a 10% weight bearing responsibility placed on the tibia, other sources say there is no weight bearing pressure on the fibula. The two articulations of the tibia and fibula are the superior and inferior tibiofibular joints: The superior tibiofibular joint is a synovial plane joint, with the transverse joint line spanning the lateral tibial condyle and the medial fibular head. The capsule is thickened anteriorly and posteriorly and joins with the anterior ligament (passing obliquely from the fibular head to the tibial condyle), relating closely to the tendon of biceps femoris . The posterior ligament is thicker and oblique, projecting between the posterior fibular head and lateral tibial condyle. The inferior tibiofibular joint is a syndesmosis joint, just above the ankle region. This joint lies between the medial distal end of the fibula and the concave fibular notch region of the tibia.

The distal end of the joint has a 4 mm separation from a prolongation of the ankle joint. There is no fibrous capsule surrounding this joint but there is a flat band of ligament named the anterior tibiofibular ligament which descends laterally between the two leg bones. The posterior tibiofibular ligament is stronger than the anterior, running in a similar fashion to its anterior counterpart but having a distal band named the inferior transverse ligament. Finally, the interosseous ligament is a continuous ligament with the leg bones, possessing many short, strong bands. This is the strongest support for the two bones. All these ligaments are important stability factors. Landmarks At the proximal end of the tibia lie the tibial condyles. The tibial condyles carry the body weight transmitted by the femur. To ease the pressure, there are pads of fibrocartilage known as menisci attached to these condyles. The condyles swing down posteriorly to allow for flexion and are palpable anteriorly. The menisci divide the intercondylar areas into anterior and posterior sections, resembling an hourglass shape.

The anterior section has an attachment site for the menisci (via the meniscofemoral and transverse ligaments) and the anterior cruciate ligament, with the posterior section doing a similar job but attaching to the posterior cruciate ligament. The tibial tuberosity is a big landmark on the tibia as it provides an attachment surface for the quadriceps muscles , via the quadriceps tendon. This is prone to inflammation (see Osgood-Schlatter disease in the pathology section) due to the tension exerted. The tuberosity is located anterior to where to condylar surfaces meet. There is also a bursa, the infrapatellar bursa that separates the tibial tuberosity from the skin. Muscle and menisci attachment The menisci of the knee are attached to the medial and lateral condyles of the proximal tibia by the meniscotibial (coronary) ligaments. The quadriceps tendon attaches to the superior part of the tibial tuberosity.

The medial and lateral tibial condyles provide attachment to the semimembranosus and biceps femoris muscles respectively, with the third hamstring muscle, the semitendinosus , attaching just anteriorly to the medial condyle attachment point. The tendons of the semitendinosus muscle group together with the tendons of the gracilis and sartorius muscles to form the pes anserinus. The tibialis anterior muscle originates proximal two-thirds along the lateral surface of the tibia, with the extensor digitorum longus originating behind the tibialis anterior, along the midline. Posteriorly, the soleal line houses the soleus , with the popliteus , originating just proximal to the region, in a roughly triangular area. Finally the tibialis posterior and flexor digitorum longus originate just distal to the soleal line. Pathology Tibia and associated fibula fractures can be quite different to other long bone fractures. If an oblique force is applied, there is usually less soft tissue damage if the resulting fracture is a clean tibial and fibular break on the same level.

The usually unharmed interosseous membrane and fascia are useful in providing blood to the area, therefore decreasing the healing time required for the injury. If the fractures of both bones are on different levels there is usually more soft tissue damage, especially at the interosseous membrane. Around 75% of tibia fractures have an associated fibula fracture. A fracture of the tibia alone can cause complications as, although the fibula is not a weight-bearing bone, the tibia can succumb to various angular deformities. Osgood-Schlatter disease is a painful inflammation of the patellar ligament at the tibial tuberosity. It is rare to find this in anyone over the age of 16. It usually occurs in young, tall males who play a lot of anterior-dominant sport, which places considerable strain on the quadriceps muscles. In its most severe form, the bone can be pulled from the tibial tuberosity after a powerful, quick movement. The effects of Osgood-Schlatter disease can last up until full growth or, with careful rehabilitation, they can disappear within a few months.

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Question: The tibia and fibula are found where in the human body?
Answer: Lower leg