BONES OF THE LOWER LIMB

OVERVIEW

What are the bones of the lower limb?

• The bones of your lower limb are vital for supporting your body and facilitating movement
• They are composed of two main components:
  • The pelvic girdle, which includes the hip bones, sacrum, and coccyx
  • The bones of the free part of the lower limb, consisting of the femur, tibia, fibula, patella, and the bones of the foot

PELVIC GIRDLE

Composition

What bones make up the pelvic girdle?

• Hip bones on each side
• Sacrum
• Coccyx

Function

What is the function of the pelvic girdle?

• Supports attachment of your lower limbs

Hip Bone

What is the hip bone?

• Structure:
  • Large, flat, irregular shape
  • Formed by three parts (ilium, ischium, pubis)
• Function:
  • Pairs with the opposite hip bone to form the complete girdle

BONES OF THE FREE PART OF THE LOWER LIMB

Femur

What is the femur?

• Structure:
  • Longest and most robust bone in the human skeleton
• Function:
  • Principal support for your body weight
  • Contributes to your leg mobility and lower limb activities

Patella

What is the patella?

• Structure:
  • Largest and most prominent sesamoid bone
• Function:
  • Enhances your knee joint mechanics

Tibia

What is the tibia?

• Location: Inner side of your leg
• Function:
  • Contributes to your knee joint above
  • Contributes to your ankle joint below

Fibula

What is the fibula?

• Location: Outer side of the tibia
• Function:
  • Provides additional stability to your ankle joint during movement

FOOT BONES

Overview

What are the bones of the foot?

• Function: Support your body weight and enable movement
• Groups:
  • Tarsal Bones (Hindfoot) - Shape the posterior section of your foot and enable functional dynamics
  • Metatarsal Bones (Midfoot) - Five bones forming the central segment of your foot; bear your body weight and allow movements involved in walking and balancing
  • Phalanges (Forefoot) - Fourteen bones, arranged similarly to your fingers; enable flexibility and movement for foot functions

Tarsal Bones (Hindfoot)

What are the tarsal bones?

• Function:
  • Shape the posterior section of your foot
  • Enable functional dynamics

Metatarsal Bones (Midfoot)

What are the metatarsal bones?

• Structure:
  • Five bones forming the central segment of your foot
• Function:
  • Bear your body weight
  • Allow movements involved in walking and balancing

Phalanges (Forefoot)

What are the phalanges of the foot?

• Structure:
  • Fourteen bones, arranged similarly to your fingers
• Function:
  • Enable flexibility and movement for your foot functions

Sesamoid Bones

What are the sesamoid bones of the foot?

• Location:
  • Embedded within tendons, particularly under the metatarsophalangeal joint of your big toe
• Function:
  • Enhance mechanical efficiency of your foot during walking or running