
What is the tibia bone called?
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.
What joints does the tibia take part in?
Two major joint in which the tibia takes part are the knee joint and the ankle joint. The tibia also has additional articulations with the fibula where it is anchored to the fibula by the superior, middle, and inferior tibiofibular joints. The knee joint is certainly something that deserves special attention.
What is the shape of the shaft of the tibia?
The shaft of the tibia is prism-shaped, with three borders and three surfaces; anterior, posterior and lateral. For brevity, only the anatomically and clinically important borders/surfaces are mentioned here.

Is the fibula hollow?
The fibula is the smaller bone located on the outside portion of the lower leg. It supports the tibia and stabilizes the lower leg muscles. It is connected to the tibia by a ligament called the “syndesmosis.” The fibula is hollow at its center and does not bear much of your body weight.
Is the tibia flat?
The proximal end of the tibia terminates in a broad, flat region called the tibial plateau. The intercondylar eminence runs down the midline of the plateau, separating the medial and lateral condyles of the tibia.
Is the tibia a smooth bone?
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.
What is the tibia made of?
The entire length of the tibia is covered in a layer of compact bone, which gives the bone its strength. The top (superior) of the tibia makes up part of the knee and is known as the tibial plateau, upon which the femur rests and together they form the hinge of the knee.
What is the structure of the tibia?
The shaft of the tibia is prism-shaped and has 3 surfaces (lateral, medial/anterior, and posterior) and 3 borders (anterior, medial, and interosseous). Medial/anterior surface: palpable down the lower leg, commonly referred to as the shin. It contains the tibial tuberosity.
Why does my tibia bone stick out?
Blount disease is a growth disorder that affects the bones of the lower leg, causing the knees to bow outward. In younger kids, just the tibia (shinbone) is affected. In teens, it's usually the tibia and the femur (thighbone). There is a natural form of leg bowing that is perfectly normal.
Is tibia outside or inside?
Tibia and fibula are the two long bones located in the lower leg. The tibia is a larger bone on the inside, and the fibula is a smaller bone on the outside. The tibia is much thicker than the fibula. It is the main weight-bearing bone of the two.
How thick is the shin bone?
On the other hand, the thickness of the tibial bone cut in the lateral side was various from 11 mm to 16 mm (average was 12.9 ± 1.13 mm).
Is the tibia strong?
It's the second longest bone in your body, and it's an important part of your ability to stand and move. Your tibia also supports lots of important muscles, tendons, nerves and ligaments. Because it's so strong, it usually takes a severe trauma like a fall or car accident to break your tibia.
Does the tibia have a head?
Muscles that originate from the tibia are the: tibialis anterior, extensor digitorum longus, soleus, tibialis posterior, and flexor digitorum longus muscles....Muscle attachments.Tibialis anteriorLateral surface of tibia, Interosseous membraneSoleusSoleal line, Head of fibula, Posterior border of fibula3 more rows
Is tibia a weight-bearing bone?
The tibia is one of two bones that comprise the leg. As the weight-bearing bone, it is significantly larger and stronger than its counterpart, the fibula. The tibia forms the knee joint proximally with the femur and forms the ankle joint distally with the fibula and talus.
Why is my shin bone bumpy?
The process of remodeling is the removal of part of the bone that is not strong enough, and replacing it with stronger bone to cope with the increased demand. This explains the bumpy feeling on the shin bone during assessment. Moreover, if the stress on the weak bone continues, a stress fracture can result.
What is the proximal end of the tibia?
In anatomy, proximal refers to the area closest to the center of the body. In the case of the tibia, the proximal end forms the knee joint with the femur. The top widens into a flat area with two round condyles that help create the knee joint. Between these condyles is the intercondylar fossa, a small groove containing two intercondylar tubercles. On the front side of the tibia, just under the condyles, is the tibial tuberosity. The tubercles and the tuberosity connect to important ligaments.
What are the four joints that the tibia helps form?
The tibia helps form four joints: the ankle, the knee, the proximal tibiofibular joint, and the distal tibiofibular joint. At each of these joints, a thin layer of hyaline cartilage covers the tibia and helps the joints move more smoothly.
What are the muscles that attach to the tibia?
The tendons of three muscles attach to the front and inside section of the tibia; these are the sartorius, gracilis, and semitendinosus. The condyles of the tibia attach to the extensor digitorum longus muscle and the horizontal section of the semimembranosus muscle. The quadriceps femoris connect to the tibial tuberosity. Other muscles that attach to the tibia at various sites include the tensor fasciae latae, popliteus, tibialis anterior, soleus, and flexor digitorum longus.
Which bone is stronger, the fibula or the tibia?
The distal end of the fibula inserts into the fibular notch on the tibia. A strong ligament connects the lower part of the fibula to the tibia. This end also acts with the tarsal bones of the foot to form the ankle joint.
What is the shaft of a bone?
The shaft of a bone is its long middle section. The tibial shaft is triangular and has a long, thin ridge running down it. This ridge begins at the tibial tuberosity and is known as the anterior crest. As the shaft approaches the ankle joint, it widens again. This occurs both from front to back and from side to side. As a whole, the shaft is essential both for absorbing stressors and providing attachment sites for many of the leg muscles.
Which bones are the shin bones?
Better known as the shin or shin bone, the tibia is the larger and stronger of the two lower leg bones. Together with the femur, it forms the knee joint. It also forms the ankle joint with the fibula and tarsal bones. Though both the tibia and the fibula occupy a similar area, the tibia sits closer to the middle and center of the leg. Additionally, the tibia acts as the anchor point for many powerful muscles, tendons, and ligaments that help perform activities such as walking and running.
What is the patella?
Most people know the patella as the kneecap. This bone assists with many movements of the knee, though it must act on the tibia and its muscles to do so. The patella connects to the tibial tuberosity via the patellar ligament. When a person extends their lower leg, a muscle pulls on the patella, which in turn pulls on the patellar ligament, which pulls on the tibial tuberosity. The result is leg extension.
What are the three surfaces of the tibia?
These three borders form three surfaces; the medial, lateral and posterior.
What is the ossification of the tibia?
Anterior aspect. The tibia is ossified from three centers; a primary center for the diaphysis (shaft) and a secondary center for each epiphysis (extremity). Ossification begins in the center of the body, about the seventh week of fetal life, and gradually extends toward the extremities.
What are the four joints that make up the tibia?
Joints. The tibia is a part of four joints; the knee, ankle, superior and inferior tibiofibular joint . In the knee the tibia forms one of the two articulations with the femur, often referred to as the tibiofemoral components of the knee joint. This is the weightbearing part of the knee joint.
How much force does the tibia take?
The tibia has been modeled as taking an axial force during walking that is up to 4.7 bodyweight. Its bending moment in the sagittal plane in the late stance phase is up to 71.6 bodyweight times millimetre.
Which bone is connected to the fibula?
The tibia is connected to the fibula by the interosseous membrane of the leg, forming a type of fibrous joint called a syndesmosis with very little movement. The tibia is named for the flute tibia. It is the second largest bone in the human body next to the femur. The leg bones are the strongest long bones as they support the rest of the body.
What is the human leg bone called?
Tibia. This article is about the human leg bone. For other uses, see Tibia (disambiguation). The tibia / ˈtɪbiə / (plural tibiae / ˈtɪbii / or tibias ), also known as the shinbone or shankbone, is the larger, stronger, and anterior (frontal) of the two bones in the leg below the knee in vertebrates (the other being the fibula, ...
Which side of the tibia is the distal end?
The distal end of the tibia is much smaller than the proximal end and presents five surfaces; it is prolonged downward on its medial side as a strong pyramidal process, the medial malleolus. The lower extremity of the tibia together with the fibula and talus forms the ankle joint .
What is the 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.
Which is smaller, the fibula or the tibia?
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. Last medically reviewed on January 21, 2018.
What is the tibia?
The tibia is a long bone, which means it is a limb bone that is longer than it is wide. Long bones are found on the upper and lower limbs, fingers, and toes. Long bones contain bone marrow in a cavity running the length of the shaft.
How long is the tibia?
The tibia is about 36 cm long on average. Tibial malformations are noticeable defects of the lower limb that may come in several varieties. In an otherwise healthy individual, fractures of the tibia are the most common injury affecting this bone.
What is a tibial hemimelia?
Tibial Hemimelia. Tibial hemimelia is a rare condition affecting the development of the tibia, usually on one limb only. 5 It is a term that covers many different presentations of the tibia, fibula, knee, and ankle. In some cases, the tibia may be bowed, called tibial bowing, with or without bowing of the fibula as well.
What is the anterior portion of the tibia called?
The anterior portion of the top of the tibia is called the tibial tuberosity, where the patella (knee cap) is attached via the patellar ligament. The bottom (inferior) of the tibia rests on the top and to the medial aspect of the talus.
What is the tibial torsion?
Tibial Torsion. The tibia is the main foundation of the lower limb and is mostly responsible for the position and function of the foot and gait. Internal tibial torsion is a congenital birth defect that causes a rotation of the tibia toward the medial aspect.
What is the shin bone?
Anatomy. There are two bones in the lower leg, below the knee. The larger of the two bones is the tibia. It is the shin bone and bears the majority of weight between the knee and the ankle. Lateral to (on the outer side of) the tibia is the fibula, a smaller long bone that provides stability and assists with rotation of the ankle.
Why is the tibia sponge-like?
The ends of the tibia have spongy bone, so-called because it contains pockets of circulation and marrow that appear to be sponge-like under a microscope. The entire length of the tibia is covered in a layer of compact bone, which gives the bone its strength. Parts of the Lower Extremity of the Body.
What are the three parts of the tibia?
Like other long bones, there are three parts of the tibia: proximal, shaft, and distal. The proximal part participates in the knee joint, whereas the distal part contributes to the ankle joint. The tibial shaft on the other hand offers many sites for leg muscle attachment. Key facts about the tibia.
What is the bone at the distal end of the tibia called?
The medial surface of the distal end features a bony extension called the medial malleolus. It articulates with the talus within the ankle joint.
What is the tibia in 2021?
Last reviewed: June 17, 2021. Reading time: 13 minutes. The tibia (shin bone) is a long bone of the leg, found medial to the fibula. It is also the the weight bearing bone of the leg, which is why it is the second largest bone in the body after the femur.
What are the three surfaces of the tibial shaft?
Shaft. The tibial shaft is triangular in cross-section and so it has three surfaces (pos terior, medial, and lateral) and three borders (anterior, interosseous, and medial). The medial surface, commonly called the shin, is bound by the anterior and medial borders.
Where is the medial border of the tibia?
The medial border is most prominent on the medial aspect of the middle third of the of tibia. Tibia is only one of the many bones making up the human body.
Where is the interosseous border?
The interosseous border begins inferior to the tubercle of the iliotibial tract and descends down the lateral surface of the tibia. This border connects to the interosseous border of the fibula by the interosseous membrane.
Which part of the tibia is the site of muscle attachment?
Proximal part. The proximal end of the tibia features several important landmarks which function as sites of muscle attachment and articular surfaces: two tibial condyles (medial and lateral) separated by intercondylar areas (anterior and posterior).
What is the tibia?
The tibia is the main bone of the lower leg, form ing what is more commonly known as the shin. It expands at its proximal and distal ends; articulating at the knee and ankle joints respectively. The tibia is the second largest bone in the body and it is a key weight-bearing structure. In this article, we shall look at anatomy ...
What are the three surfaces of the tibia?
The shaft of the tibia is prism-shaped, with three borders and three surfaces; anterior, posterior and lateral. For brevity, only the anatomically and clinically important borders/surfaces are mentioned here. Anterior border – palpable subcutaneously down the anterior surface of the leg as the shin.
What is the distal end of the tibia?
Distal. The distal end of the tibia widens to assist with weight-bearing. The medial malleolus is a bony projection continuing inferiorly on the medial aspect of the tibia. It articulates with the tarsal bones to form part of the ankle joint.
Where is the fibula bound to the tibia?
On the posterior surface of the tibia, there is a groove through which the tendon of tibialis posterior passes. Laterally is the fibular notch, where the fibula is bound to the tibia – forming the distal tibiofibular joint.
What is a fracture of the proximal tibia called?
Fractures of the proximal tibia are known as tibial plateau fractures; the condyles may be broken and injury to the menisci and ligaments of the knee is not uncommon. These fractures are classified using the Schatzker classification, and if very displaced will likely required operative management.
What is the tibia?
The tibia is the large shin bone located between the knee and the ankle. This part of the body is called—in medical terms—the leg. Together with the foot and thigh, the leg forms the lower extremity. (The leg is actually only the segment between the knee and ankle, even though many people refer to the lower extremity as the leg.)
Where is the shaft of the tibia located?
The shaft of the tibia is the central portion of the bone, not the flared ends of the bone located just below the knee or above the ankle. The medical name for the shaft of the tibia is the diaphysis of the bone.
How to tell if tibia is broken?
The usual signs of a tibia fracture include: Severe pain in the extremity 2 . Deformity of the leg. Tenderness directly on the bone. Inability to place weight on the leg 3 . When there is a concern about a possible tibial shaft fracture, an X-ray will be obtained to determine if the bone is damaged.
How to treat a tibial fracture?
Traditionally, most tibia fractures were treated with cast application or braces.
Why do tibia fractures need surgery?
One of these reasons is an open fracture where the bone of the tibia has penetrated the skin. Because of the possibility of infection when the bone penetrates the skin, these fractures are generally treated urgently with surgery. 5 .
What is the best treatment for a broken tibia shaft?
The most common treatments for a broken tibia shaft include: Casting: A cast is appropriate for tibial shaft fractures that are not badly displaced and are well aligned. 1 Patients need to be in a cast that goes above the knee and below the ankle (a long leg cast).
What is the hollow center of the shin bone called?
Inside the hollow center of the shin bone is the bone marrow canal. The outer part of the bone is thick and rigid; this is called the cortex of the bone and provides the strength of the tibia. When a tibia fracture occurs, the bone is disrupted, and the stability of the leg is compromised. 2 Tibia fractures are usually painful injuries ...
