Leg

LEG ANATOMY

To be anatomically correct, when referring to the leg, one refers to the portion of the lower extremity that occupies the space between the knee and the foot. The leg bones consist of the tibia and the fibula. The larger leg bone, the tibia, is located more medially and centrally than the fibula. Often commonly referred to as the shin bone, the tibia proximally meets the femur at the joint of the knee while meets distally with the talus of the ankle joint. The tibia and fibula also conjoin together with each other proximally and distally.

LEG STRUCTURE

The proximal end of the tibia has two mild depressions known as the medial and lateral condyles. They are responsible for connecting with the condyles of the femur. The intercondylar eminence is an upward protrusion that crests in between the two condyles and provides segregation as well as an anchor for the crutiate ligaments necessary for the knee joint motion. The patellar ligament attaches to the tibial tuberosity. This can be found on the proximoanterior portion of the tibia. The common body part known as the shin is actually the anterior crest. It is nothing more than a sharp and definite ridge along the surface of the bone’s body.

LEG DIAGRAM

Along the distomedial end of the tibia there is a knobby protrusion that can be felt from the outside of the body. This knob is technically referred to as the medial malleolus. The fibular notch is then located on the opposite side, the distolateral surface, and serves to conjoin with the fibula. The tibia is much larger and more dominant, and whether by design or designed to bear weight, it takes over 75%of the body’s weight bearing motions.

The fibula is structurally designed for muscular attachment rather than weight bearing activities. The head of the fibula conjoins with the tibia at the tibia’s proximolateral end. The lateral malleolus is defined and distinctive as a prominent knobby feature at the distal end of the fibula.