Tibia

Tibia — the shinbone

Anatomy

Short definition

The shinbone — main weight-bearing bone of the lower leg.

Full definition

Tibia — the primary load-bearing lower-leg bone: from the patella (via the knee) to the malleoli. It anchors the anterior (tibialis anterior, extensors), lateral (peroneals) and posterior (soleus, flexors) calf groups and the posterior knee ligaments. Paired with the fibula (perone), a slender lateral bone that carries muscle but bears little load. Bone mass ≈ 3–4 % of body mass.

Examples

Knee ligaments attach to the tibia and fibula.

Related terms

Femur Calcaneus Tibialis Anterior Calves