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Lower Extremity - Leg & Foot
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Lower Extremity - Leg & Foot

Tibia
  • Medial leg bone
Medial and lateral condyles
  • Articulate with the condyles of the femur
Superior articular facets
  • On the surface of the condyles; sites of articulation with the condyles of the femur
Intercondylar eminence
  • A bony projection between the superior articular facets
Tibial tuberosity
  • Rough, raised portion of bone where the patellar tendon of the quadriceps muscle inserts
Anterior intercondylar area
  • Provides attachment sites for ligaments of the knee
  • Gerdy's tubercle (aka anterolateral tubercle), which is where the iliotibial band (aka iliotibial band) inserts.
Shaft (aka body)
Medial malleolus
  • Bony bump you feel on the medial side of your ankle
Tibial articular surface
  • Where the tibia articulates with the bones of the ankle (aka tarsals)
Fibula
  • Lateral leg bone
Apex
  • Pointy projection
Head
  • Articulates with tibia
Neck
Shaft
Lateral malleolus
  • Bony bump you can feel on the lateral side of your ankle.
Interosseus membrane
  • Fills the space between the tibia and fibula; provides additional muscle attachment sites and divides the muscles of the leg into anterior and posterior compartments.
Tarsals
Calcaneus
  • Largest tarsal bone, lies posteriorly (aka, heel); features the tuberosity, lateral and medial processes, sustenaculum tali, groove for tendon of flexor hallucis longus,
Talus
  • Features neck, head, and trochlear surface, which articulates with tibia of leg; lateral and medial tubercles border the groove for the tendon of flexor hallucis longus.
Navicular
  • Boat shaped
Cuboid
  • Cube shaped; features the tuberosity and the groove for the tendon of fibularis longus.
Cuneiforms
  • Lateral, intermediate, and medial
Metatarsals
  • Five bones of the base of the foot
Phalanges
  • Proximal phalanges
  • Middle phalanges
  • Distal phalanges
  • Digits 2-5 have all three phalanges, digit 1 has only proximal and distal phalanges.
Arches of the Foot
  • Created by the bones of the foot, and are supported by ligaments and tendons, which respond to changes in weight load during bipedal movement.
Medial
  • Arises on the calcaneus, extends to the metatarsals 1-3; the talus is its keystone bone
Lateral
Transverse
Clinical Correlations
  • Tibial stress fractures are common, and are caused by repetitive stress to the lower leg.
  • Common fibula fracture sites are:
Fracture of the distal end of the fibula (called Pott's (aka Dupuytren's) fracture). It is caused by forced eversion of the foot. Fracture of the fibular neck. It can injure the fibular (aka peroneal) nerve, which can result in "foot drop." A stress fracture (aka march fracture) is a fracture of the metatarsals, most commonly the 2nd and 3rd; 6-8 weeks of rest is typically required for complete healing.
Photos from: https://sites.google.com/a/umich.edu/bluelink/resources/bluelinks/labeled-bones-joints-and-movement-images
Muscles of the Lower Leg:
Anterior Posterior Lateral

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