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Tibia

life science Maturity 11-13 Next article →

The tibia is a very important part of your leg.

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Many people call it the shinbone or the shankbone. It is the larger and stronger of the two bones in your lower leg. The other bone is the fibula, which sits behind and to the outside. The tibia is the second largest bone in your whole body. Only the femur, which is your thigh bone, is bigger. This bone is vital because it helps support your weight.

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This bone works by connecting your knee to your ankle. It is a long bone made of three main parts. The middle section is called the diaphysis, or the shaft. There are also two rounded ends called epiphyses. The upper end is near your thigh. The lower end is near your foot.

Knee diagram
Knee diagram

The bone grows from three different centers during its formation. One center is in the shaft, and one is in each end. This way, the bone builds itself from the inside out.

At the top, the tibia forms part of the knee joint. This area is called the tibial plateau. It has two flat surfaces called condyles. The medial condyle is larger and provides more support. These surfaces meet the femur to carry your weight.

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There is a small space between the condyles. This space is where important ligaments attach. A bump called the tibial tuberosity sits just below the condyles. This bump helps attach the ligament that connects to your thigh muscle.

Moving down, the shaft of the bone has a special shape. It is triangular if you look at a cross-section. It has three edges and three different surfaces. One edge is the anterior crest, which is very prominent. You can often feel this right under your skin.

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The bone also stays healthy through blood flow. A main nutrient artery brings blood into the bone. Other small vessels come from the anterior tibial artery. This keeps the living bone cells working well.

At the bottom, the tibia helps form your ankle joint. The end of the bone is much smaller than the top. On the inner side, it forms a strong bump. This bump is called the medial malleolus.

Tibia - inferior epiphysis (anterior view)
Tibia - inferior epiphysis (anterior view)

The tibia, the fibula, and a bone called the talus all work together here. They create the joint that lets your foot move. This structure is what allows you to walk and stand steadily.

Tibia - inferior epiphysis (posterior view)
Tibia - inferior epiphysis (posterior view)
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Gray257.png
File:Knee diagram.svg
Knee diagram.svg
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Gray258.png
File:Tibia - inferior epiphysis (anterior view).jpg
Tibia - inferior epiphysis (anterior view).jpg
File:Tibia - inferior epiphysis (posterior view).jpg
Tibia - inferior epiphysis (posterior view).jpg
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Gray260.png
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