Lower Limb Bones
The human lower limb is probably one of the greatest features we’ve got from evolution, as it provides us with bipedal mobility and activities such as running, jumping and dancing. From superior to inferior, the lower limb consists of the thigh, leg and foot.
The core of the thigh is composed of the strongest bone of the human body, the femur. Proximally, the femur articulates with the hip bone, composing the hip joint, which attaches the lower limb to the trunk. Distally, the femur participates in the complex knee joint, together with the patella and tibia. The knee joint, thus, is a connection between the thigh and leg.
The leg consists of the tibia and fibula. Distally, both of them participate in the ankle joint via which the leg connects with the foot. The foot bone that takes part in the ankle joint is called the talus.
Similar to the hand, the foot also consists of three groups of bones:
- 7 tarsal bones, that compose the heel and root of the foot
- 5 metatarsal bones, that comprise the sole and dorsum of the foot, as well as the roots of the toes
- 3 sets of phalanges (proximal, middle, distal), which build the skeleton of the toes. Note that the big toe (hallux) is devoid of middle phalanx, consisting just of the proximal and distal phalanges.
Get a complete overview with this handy lower limb starter guide.
Hip Bone Anatomy
An interactive and illustrated tutorial covering the anatomy of the hip bone (os coxa).
Femur Bone – Anterior and Posterior Markings
An interactive tutorial featuring the anterior and posterior markings of the femur bone, with the aid of the iconic GetBodySmart illustrations.
Patella Bone – Anterior and Posterior Views
The patella, also known as the kneecap, is a triangular shaped bone located anterior to a groove between the femur condyles called the patellar surface. It covers and protects the distal surface of the anterior femur and functions to displace the quadriceps tendon away from the femurotibial joint surface.
Tibia and Fibula Bones – Anatomy
An introduction to the tibia and fibula bones of the leg. Learn about the different markings and test yourself.
Tarsals | Tarsal Bones Anatomy
The tarsal bones are seven bones articulating with each other. They build the connection between the lower leg and the metatarsus.
Metatarsal bones and phalanges
The foot is made up of five metatarsal bones and fourteen phalanges. Review the superior view of the metatarsal bones and phalanges in this tutorial.
Foot Bones Anatomy
Our foot bones are organized fascinatingly, making it viable for our feet to perform their crucial role in supporting our body. Click to start learning about this topic in a fun and easy way!