Tibia

Eva Rudolf-Müller is a freelance writer in the medical team. She studied human medicine and newspaper sciences and has repeatedly worked in both areas - as a doctor in the clinic, as a reviewer, and as a medical journalist for various specialist journals. She is currently working in online journalism, where a wide range of medicine is offered to everyone.

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The tibia, the shinbone, is the second longest bone in the human skeleton and, together with the thinner fibula, forms the lower leg. The name Tibia is derived from the Latin word for bone flute because it has a shape similar to the shin. The long bone lies on the inside of the lower leg and is involved in building two joints - the knee joint and the upper ankle joint. Read everything you need to know about the tibia!

What is the tibia

The tibia (shin bone) is the stronger of the two lower leg bones. In the middle area (shaft) it is triangular, with the front, sharp edge lying directly under the skin, where it can also be felt over the entire length. The shinbone is connected to the adjacent fibula via a membrane (interosseous membrane).

The tibial bone widens at its upper end to form a strong end piece (tibial head), on the side of which the two tibial glands (condyles) protrude. These are smooth at the top and covered by a cartilage surface. A rough elevation (Eminentia intercondylaris) lies between the two condyles. The anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments are attached in front of and behind this elevation.

In the middle of the front of the tibial head there is an elevation (tibial tuberosity) to which the tendon of the strong quadriceps muscle, the extensor muscle of the lower leg, is attached to the kneecap (patella) - a point that protrudes significantly in some people. In the rear area, under the outer condyle, the tibia is in contact with the fibula.

Knee joint

Since the two upper joint surfaces of the tibia are almost flat and the lower end of the thighbone (femur) is arched, the two bones do not basically fit together. To compensate for this shortcoming, the joint surfaces are covered with a thick layer of cartilage, which is thickest at the points where the greatest pressure occurs and can also deform. As a result, larger joint surfaces of the shin and thigh bone are in contact when the knee joint is stressed.

Another "tool" to improve the contact between the uneven joint surfaces between the tibia and femur are the menisci. These C-shaped cartilage discs are thicker on the outside than on the inside. Its upper side is adapted to the shape of the joint surface of the femur, the lower side to the shape of the joint surface of the tibia. Both menisci are connected to the shinbone by fibers and are externally connected to the joint capsule.

Ankle joint

The lower end of the tibia (pilon) is thickened and, together with the fibula and the ankle bone, forms the upper ankle joint, which articulates the lower leg with the foot. The talus is one of the tarsal bones. On the inside of the pilon there is a bony protrusion, the inner malleolus. On the opposite side, the tibia has a cavity against which the fibula rests.

What is the function of the tibia?

The tibia is the stronger of the two lower leg bones and is therefore primarily concerned with its load-bearing function. It makes its contribution to movements in the knee and ankle joint via the joint surfaces.

Where is the tibia located?

At the upper end, the tibia, together with the thigh bone, the femur, and the kneecap, the patella, form the knee joint. At the lower end, it forms the upper ankle joint with the fibula and the ankle bone.

What problems can the tibia cause?

The shin can break in various places. Accordingly, a distinction is made between the tibial head fracture, the tibial shaft fracture and the distal tibia fracture (break in the ankle area).

Tibialis anterior syndrome (anterior compartment or bottleneck syndrome of the lower leg) is associated with pain, swelling and hardening on the side of the anterior tibial edge. The cause is usually trauma or an operation on the lower leg.

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