Does the lower leg include the knee?
The lower leg is comprised of two bones, the tibia and the smaller fibula. The thigh bone, or femur, is the large upper leg bone that connects the lower leg bones (knee joint) to the pelvic bone (hip joint).
Is knee considered upper or lower leg?
Knee anatomy and function. The knee joins the upper leg and the lower leg. It's also the largest joint in the body. In addition to bearing the weight of the upper body, the knee allows for walking, running, and jumping.
What are the parts of the lower leg?
You lower extremity is a combination of parts:hip.thigh.knee.leg.ankle.foot.toes.
What is the part of the leg called under the knee?
The popliteal fossa (sometimes referred to as hough, or kneepit in analogy to the cubital fossa) is a shallow depression located at the back of the knee joint. The bones of the popliteal fossa are the femur and the tibia.
What is the upper leg called?
Quadriceps include four large muscles located in the front of the thigh: vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius, and rectus femoris. They start at the pelvis (hip bone) and femur (thigh bone) and extend down to the patella (kneecap) and tibia (shin bone).
Which are the three parts of the leg?
The human leg, in the common word sense, is the entire lower limb of the human body. This includes the foot, thigh and even the hip or gluteal region.
What is lower leg bone called?
The tibia and fibula are the two long bones in the lower leg. They connect the knee and ankle, but they are separate bones. The tibia is the shinbone, the larger of the two bones in the lower leg. The top of the tibia connects to the knee joint and the bottom connects to the ankle joint.
What is front of lower leg called?
The calf is the back portion, and the tibia or shinbone together with the smaller fibula make up the front of the lower leg.
What is the lower leg muscle called?
Your calf muscle consists of two main muscles — the gastrocnemius and the soleus. Because these two muscles come together above your heel and attach to the Achilles tendon, some providers refer to the gastrocnemius and soleus as one large muscle with two sections.
What is the thing between the knee and leg?
The “knee thing” is a way to stimulate someone's clitoris. While in the middle of a makeout session, for example, one person — typically the one on top — angles their knee in between the other person's legs, hitting where their vulva is.
What is the anatomy of the knee?
The knee consists of three bones: femur – the upper leg bone, or thigh bone. tibia – the bone at the front of the lower leg, or shin bone. patella – the thick, triangular bone that sits over the other bones at the front of the knee, or kneecap.
What is the bone between your knee and ankle called?
tibiaThe tibia or shinbone connects the knee to the ankle. The patella (kneecap) is the small bone in front of the knee and rides on the knee joint as the knee bends. The fibula is a shorter and thinner bone running parallel to the tibia on its outside. The joint acts like a hinge but with some rotation.
What is lower leg bone called?
The tibia and fibula are the two long bones in the lower leg. They connect the knee and ankle, but they are separate bones. The tibia is the shinbone, the larger of the two bones in the lower leg. The top of the tibia connects to the knee joint and the bottom connects to the ankle joint.
What is the anatomy of the leg?
The bones of the human leg, like those of other mammals, consist of a basal segment, the femur (thighbone); an intermediate segment, the tibia (shinbone) and the smaller fibula; and a distal segment, the pes (foot), consisting of tarsals, metatarsals, and phalanges (toes).
What muscle is above the knee?
The four quadriceps muscles meet just above the kneecap (patella) to form the quadriceps tendon. The quadriceps tendon attaches the quadriceps muscles to the patella.
What is front of leg called?
In the front of the thigh the quadriceps muscles extend the knee joint. In the back of the thigh, the hamstring muscles flex the knee. The knee also rotates slightly under guidance of specific muscles of the thigh.
What are the main parts of the knee joint?
Bones and soft tissues. The main parts of the knee joint are the femur, tibia, patella, and supporting ligaments. The condyles of the femur and of the tibia come in close proximity to form the main structure of the joint.
What does "leg" mean in anatomy?
Almost never. For example, take a look at the leg. When your non-health science friends talk about the ‘leg’, they mean the entire lower extremity. However, in the world of anatomy, the ‘leg’ strictly means the portion between the knee and the ankle joints. It is composed of several structures:
How many muscles are there in the posterior leg?
There are seven muscles in total, separated into two layers. The superficial muscles are the gastrocnemius, soleus (together forming the triceps surae) and plantaris . Key facts about the superficial muscles of the posterior compartment of the leg. Gastrocnemius.
What bone is the weight bearing bone of the leg?
You can also certainly feel it when you hit it against a surface by accident. The tibia is the weight-bearing bone of the leg and is directly involved in the formation of both the knee and ankle joints. Therefore, it facilitates movement. The fibula is smaller, thinner, and laterally positioned compared to the tibia.
What is the tibia and fibula?
The tibia and fibula are two long bones that run parallel to each other, forming the scaffold of the leg and providing attachment points for many muscles. The tibia, commonly known as the ‘shin bone’, is the largest and most medial of the two. You can palpate its anterior border when you run your finger down the anterior aspect of your leg. You can also certainly feel it when you hit it against a surface by accident. The tibia is the weight-bearing bone of the leg and is directly involved in the formation of both the knee and ankle joints. Therefore, it facilitates movement.
Which muscle is located in the deep layer of the leg?
The deep layer consists of many more, namely the popliteus , tibialis posterior, flexor digitorum longus, and flexor hallucis longus. As the name suggests, all these muscles run along the posterior aspect of the leg, producing plantar flexion of the ankle joint.
What are the two shock absorbers in the knee?
The joint contains two shock-absorbers ( menisci ), which also function to improve congruency at the knee. Anatomy of the knee joint (sagittal view) In addition, the knee joint is strengthened by various ligaments, such as the patellar ligament, tibial and fibular collateral ligaments, and oblique popliteal ligament.
What is the lower leg?
The lower leg is a major anatomical part of the skeletal system. Together with the upper leg, it forms the lower extremity.
What is the function of the lower leg?
It also functions primarily for standing, walking, running, jumping, and other similar weight-bearing activities; as a result, most fractures occur in this area.
Which bones are the strongest in the lower leg?
The lower leg contains two major long bones, the tibia and the fibula, which are both very strong skeletal structures. The tibia (also called the shinbone) is located near the midline of the leg and is the thicker and stronger of the two bones.
Where is the fibula located?
The fibula, also called the calf bone, is significantly smaller and is situated on the lateral (farther from the midline) side of the tibia. The main muscle in this area of the leg is the gastrocnemius, which gives the calf a bulging muscular appearance.
What is the knee?
The knee is a complex joint that flexes, extends, and twists slightly from side to side.
Where is the kneecap held in place?
The kneecap slides along a groove in the femur as the knee bends. It is held in place by a ligament at the bottom and a tendon on top. Those connect to the femur and tibia. Sometimes, due to numerous complications, the kneecap comes out of its groove and becomes dislocated.
What are the two connective tissues that connect the major muscles of the knee?
Another common sporting injury is pulling or straining the hamstring tendons , two groups of string-like connective tissues at the back of the knee and thigh that connect some of the major muscles of the knee.
What is the LCL?
Lateral collateral ligament (LCL) Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) Damage to the ACL, such as a tear, is a common knee injury among athletes. Severe injuries to this important ligament typically involve reconstructive surgery.
Why does my knee hurt so bad?
Knee problems and knee pain are common as the knee is a frequent point of contact during traumatic accidents and is as prone to wear and tear due to its weight-bearing nature . It is also a common site for arthritis pain. Other knee problems include: Fractured kneecap. Torn meniscus.
Which bone is not directly affected by hinge joint action?
The fibula (calf bone), the other bone in the lower leg, is connected to the joint but is not directly affected by the hinge joint action. Another bone, the patella (kneecap), is at the center of the knee. Two concave pads of cartilage (strong, flexible tissue) called menisci minimize the friction created at the meeting of the ends ...
What are the two concave pads of cartilage called?
Two concave pads of cartilage (strong, flexible tissue) called menisci minimize the friction created at the meeting of the ends of the tibia and femur. There are also several key ligaments, a type of fibrous connective tissue, that connect these bones. The four key ligaments of the knee are: Damage to the ACL, such as a tear, is a common knee ...
What are the compartments of the lower leg?
The lower leg is divided into four compartments that contain the various muscles of the lower leg—anterior, lateral, posterior and deep posterior.
What muscles are in the lower leg?
There are many muscles located in the lower leg, but there are three that are particularly well known—the gastrocnemius and the soleus, which are the most powerful muscles in the lower leg, and the anterior tibialis . The Achilles tendon is also located in the lower leg.
What is the lateral compartment?
Lateral Compartment. The lateral compartment is along the outside of the lower leg. It contains the peroneus longus and peroneus brevis muscles. These muscles pull the toes and feet outward. They also help with pointing the foot, or plantarflexion. To feel these muscles contract, place your hand on the outside of your shin and turn your foot out.
Which compartment of the calf contains the plantaris muscle?
Posterior Compartment. The posterior compartment holds the large muscles that we know as the calf muscles—the gastrocnemius and soleus. This compartment also contains plantaris muscle. The gastrocnemius is shorter, thicker and has two inner and outer attachments. It is the most visible of the calf muscles. The soleus lies underneath.
What is the function of the anterior tibial, posterior tibial, and fibular arteries?
The anterior tibial, posterior tibial, and fibular arteries are responsible for blood supply to the lower leg. The lower leg makes up a large portion of an individual's overall body weight. It is an essential structure for any weight-bearing activity, such as walking, stand, running, or jumping. Common conditions that affect ...
Where is the deep posterior compartment?
The deep posterior compartment lies deep within the back of the lower leg. It includes the tibialis posterior, the flexor digitorum longus and the flexor hallucus longus.
Which bone is stronger, the tibia or the calf?
The tibia, also known as the shin bone, is the stronger and larger of the two. It is located toward the middle of the lower leg. The fibula, or calf bone, is smaller and is located on the outside of the lower leg. The lower leg is also home to nerve fibers, including the superficial fibular (or peroneal) nerve, the deep fibular (or peroneal) nerve, ...
What is the structure of the knee?
The knee is a complex structure consisting of bone, cartilage, muscle, tendon, ligament, synovial fluid and nerves. Knee pain could be the result of a problem with any one of these components, or a combination of several. You may be experiencing knee pain and want to know the possible causes. The diagram, below, is a handy guide to ...
Where should the kneecap be on the thigh?
The kneecap should track smoothly in the groove on the lower end of the thigh bone. If this does not happen, the cartilage on the two surfaces may wear away and the bones come into contact with each other causing pain due to arthritis.
What is the condition that affects the underside of the kneecap and the trochlear groove in the?
Patellofemoral Arthritis. This affects the underside of the kneecap (patella) and the trochlear groove in the femur in which it moves. When the articular cartilage covering the surfaces of the bone wears away and becomes inflamed the bones come into contact with each other resulting in pain.
How many plicae are there in each knee?
There are usually four in each knee, at the embryonic stage, and help to bend the joints easily. About 50% of the population loose their plicae by absorption at the foetal stage. If a plica becomes inflamed because of injury or overuse it can cause pain, swelling or locking of the knee joint.
Why does my knee hurt when I walk?
Stiffness and pain at the back of the knee may be due to a torn posterior horn of one of the menisci (see medial and lateral meniscus tear). This type of damage is often due to athletic activity and the pain may not be evident until some time later.
What is the pain at the front of the thigh above the knee?
Pain at the front above the knee. This is the location of the quadriceps tendon which attaches the four large muscles of the front of the thigh to the knee cap.
What is the pain in the front of the knee called?
Patellofemoral pain syndrome. This is a general term used for a dull pain in the vicinity of the kneecap and front of the knee. Sometimes known as runner’s knee. Various causes including overuse or misalignment of the kneecap.
Where do blood clots occur?
Most deep-vein blood clots happen in the lower leg or thigh. They're more likely to happen if you're inactive for long periods, like on a long flight or car ride. You're also at risk if you're overweight, or you smoke, or take certain medications.
What to do if your leg hurts?
Rest your legs to feel better. Ice helps. So can anti-inflammatory meds such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen, if your doctor says these are safe for you. You can buy them over the counter. You might want to see your doctor if the pain stays. Try not to do anything that makes your leg hurt more.
How to stop a swollen leg from hurting?
Apply ice to get some relief. Or take anti-inflammatories if your doctor says they're okay for you. Avoid doing anything that causes pain. When it hurts less, stretch and strengthen your leg.
How to improve circulation in legs?
How to Improve Circulation. The lower parts of your legs take the brunt of your day-to-day life. You shouldn’t have to be in pain, though. Medical treatments can help if your doctor says you have a condition like leg cramps, blood clots, or issues with the nerves. But you can do things at home that help, too.
How to get rid of leg cramps?
It happens when your muscles are tired or dehydrated. Drink more water if you're prone to leg cramps. It might help to gently stretch or massage the area where your muscle has tensed up. Stretch your legs properly before you exercise, too.
What nerves run down the back of the leg?
The fibular nerves are also known as the peroneal nerves. Fibular nerv es run from the lower spine all the way down the back of the leg, ending at the heel. If the fibular nerves are damaged or compressed, this can result in a condition known as foot drop.
What is restless leg syndrome?
Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a chronic condition characterized by uncomfortable sensations while lying down and a strong urge to move the legs. Leg movement relieves the unpleasant sensations temporarily, often resulting in poor quality sleep. RLS is co..
Why do my legs go numb?
Numbness in the lower leg occurs when there is injury or disruption to the nerves of the lower extremity. Injury can happen to a single nerve or a group of nerves, and causes are broad and varied.
Which nerves cause numbness in the legs?
The main nerves of the legs that are most often affected and result in numbness include the sciatic nerve and its branches, such as the common peroneal nerve and the tibial nerve. The sciatic nerve starts in the lower back and its branches run from the back of the leg all the way to the toes.
Why does my lower leg go numb?
Some infections can cause large abscesses in the spine that can also cause compression of the nerves in the lower leg .
How many bones are in the backbone?
The backbone, or spine, is made up of 26 bones called vertebrae. In between the bones are soft disks filled with a jelly-like substance. These disks cushion the vertebrae and keep them in place. Although people talk about a slipped disk, nothing actually slips out of place. The outer shell of the disk ruptures, and the jelly-like substance bulges out. It may be pressing on a nerve, which is what causes the pain.A slipped disk is more likely to happen due to strain on the back, such as during heavy lifting, and older individuals are at higher risk.
Is numbness in the lower leg life threatening?
Usually, numbness in the lower leg is not life-threatening , especially if it is related to compressive etiologies of leg numbness. However, there are life- and/or limb-threatening conditions such as compartment syndrome a situation in which increased pressure within a confined space can lead to the inadequate blood supply to an organ that can also present as numbness. Usually, these conditions are associated with severe trauma and symptoms such as paralysis, lack of pulse and changes in the color of the extremity. Also Guillain-Barre Syndrome can result in numbness and weakness spreading to other parts including the breathing muscles and is an emergency needing immediate medical attention.
