Bones of the Lower Limbs

Femur

Location: though

Description

• long bone

• characteristic features include head, neck, shaft, greater and lesser trochanters, linea aspera, and medial and lateral condyles

• head forms part of hip joint

• distal end forms part of knee joint

Comment:

• only none of thigh

• longest bone in body; length accurately predicts height of individual

Greater trochanter

Location: femur (proximal)

Description:

• large, quadrangular projection at junction of neck with shaft

comment:

• provides attachment for many muscles of gluteal region (exception: gluteus maximus)

Head of femur

Location: femur (proximal)

Description:

• smooth, spherical shape

• contains fovea for ligament of head of femur (also know as fovea capitis)

• continuous with neck of femur

Comment:

• articulates with acetabulum of hip bone to form hip joint

Lateral condyle of femur

Location: femur (distal)

Description:

• lateral enlargement of distal end

• smooth surface articulates with tibia and patella

Comment:

• provides attachment for lateral head of gastrocnemius and popliteus muscles, and fibular collateral ligament of knee

• Latin: condyle = knuckle

Lesser trochanter

Location: femur (proximal)

Description:

• pyramidal process on medial shaft

Comment:

• provides attachment for a single muscle - iliopsoas

Medial condyle of femur

location: femur (distal)

Description:

• medial enlargement of distal end

• smooth surface articulates with tibia and patella

Comment:

• provides attachment for medial head of gastrocnemius and adductor magnus muscles, and tibial collateral ligament of knee

Neck of femur

location: femur (proximal)

Description:

• oblique part between head with shaft

Comment:

• common site of fracture, especially in elderly

• poor blood supply leads to slow or inadequate repair of fracture

Fibula

Location: leg (lateral)

Description:

• long, thin bone

• articulates with tibia (proximal) and talus (distal)

• characteristic features include head, neck, shaft, and lateral malleolus

Head of fibula

Location: fibula (proximal)

Description:

• rounded subcutaneous projection

• articulates with lateral condyle of tibia

Comment:

• provides attachment for fibular (lateral) collateral ligament of knee and biceps femoris muscle

Intercondylar eminence

Location:

• tibia (proximal)

• between articular surfaces of condyles

Description:

• roughened area

Function:

• provide attachment for lateral and medial menisci, and anterior cruciate ligament

Lateral condyle of tibia

Location: tibia (proximal)

Description:

• lateral enlargement of proximal end

• has surfaced for articulation with lateral condyle of femur and with fibula

• provides attachment point for iliotibial tract

Comment:

• lateral condyle of tibia more prominent than medial

• Latin: condyle = knuckle

Lateral malleolus

Location: fibula (distal)

Description:

• rounded, subcutaneous projection

• contributes to ankle joints

Medial condyle of tibia

Location: tibia (proximal)

Description:

• medial enlargement of proximal end

• has surface for articulation with medial condyle of femur

Function:

• provides attachment for semimembranosus muscle and tibial (medial) collateral ligament

Comment:

• lateral condyle of tibia more prominent than medial

Medial malleolus

Location: tibia (distal)

Description:

• rounded, subcutaneous projection

• contributes to ankle joint

Neck of fibula

Location:

• fibula (superior)

• between head and shaft

Description:

• constricted part between head and shaft

Shaft of fibula

Location:

• fibula

• between neck and lateral malleolus

Description:

• long, slender part

• irregular surface provides attachment for muscles

Comment:

• attached to shaft of tibia by interosseous membrane of leg

Shaft of tibia

Location:

• tibia

• between condyles and distal end

Description:

• long, thick part

• thinnest at junction of middle and distal thirds

• features include subcutaneous anterior border and soleal line

Comment:

• attached to shaft of fibula by interosseous membrane of leg

Tibia

Location: leg (medial)

Description:

• long bone between knee and ankle joints

• characteristic features include medial and lateral condyles, medial and lateral plateaus, tuberosity, shaft, and medial malleolus

• contributes to knee and ankle joints

Also know as: shin bone

comment:

• anterior shaft is subcutaneous

Tibial tuberosity

Location: tibia (anterior)

Description:

• bony elevation on proximal shaft

Comment:

• provides attachment for quadriceps femoris muscles, via patellar ligament

Patellar

Location: knee (anterior)

• within tendon of quadriceps femoris muscle

Description:

• triangular sesamoid bone

• apex of bone directed distally

• posterior surface has two articular facets for femoral condyles

• together with femur and tibia, forms knee joint

Also known as: kneecap

Comments:

• acts as fulcrum to increase angle of quadriceps femoris tendon across knee

Calcaneus

Location: foot (posterior)

Description:

• most posterior tarsal bone

• largest tarsal bone

• irregular shape

• articulates with talus and cuboid bone

Metatarsals

Location: foot

Description:

• five small, long bones, between tarsal bones to phalanges

• designated by Roman numeral (I-V) from medial (great toe) to lateral (little toe)

• characteristic features are base (proximal), shaft, and head (distal)

Comment:

• heads are surface contact points on plantar foot

• ahead of metatarsal 1 is also know as “ball of the foot”

Phalanges of toes

Location: foot (toes)

Description:

• small bones of toes

• lateral four toes (2-4) have three phalanges each (proximal, middle, and distal)

• great toe has two phalanges (proximal and distal)

Comment:

• singular of phalanges is phalanx

Tarsal bones

Location: foot

Description:

• seven irregular-shaped bones

Comment:

• includes talus, calcaneus, navicular, cuboid, and three cuneiform bones