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Tibia
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Main page This article is about the human leg bone. For other uses, see Tibia (disambiguation).
Contents The tibia /ˈtɪbiə/ (plural tibiae /ˈtɪbii/ or tibias),
Current events Tibia
also known as the shinbone or shankbone, is
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the larger, stronger, and anterior (frontal) of the
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Contact us two bones in the leg below the knee in vertebrates
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outside of the tibia), and it connects the knee with
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the ankle bones. The tibia is found on the medial
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median plane or centre-line. The tibia is
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connected to the fibula by the interosseous
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membrane of the leg, forming a type of fibrous
joint called a syndesmosis with very little
Tools movement. The tibia is named for the flute tibia. It
What links here is the second largest bone in the human body next Position of tibia (shown in red)
Related changes to the femur. The leg bones are the strongest long
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bones as they support the rest of the body.
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1 Structure
Wikidata item
1.1 Upper extremity
Print/export 1.1.1 Facets
1.1.2 Intercondyloid eminence
Download as PDF
Printable version 1.1.3 Surfaces
1.2 Shaft
In other projects 1.2.1 Borders Cross section of the leg showing the different
Wikimedia Commons 1.2.2 Surfaces compartments (latin terminology)
1.3 Lower extremity Details
Languages 1.3.1 Surfaces Articulations Knee, ankle, superior and
Dansk 1.3.2 Fractures inferior tibiofibular joint
Deutsch 1.4 Blood supply Identifiers
Español 1.5 Joints
Latin (os) tibia
Français
1.6 Development
Hrvatski MeSH D013977
2 Function
Italiano TA98 A02.5.06.001
2.1 Muscle attachments
Nederlands TA2 1397
2.2 Strength
Русский
3 Clinical significance FMA 24476
Türkçe
 3.1 Fracture Anatomical terms of bone
48 more [edit on Wikidata]
4 Society and culture
Edit links
5 Other animals
6 Additional images
7 See also
8 References

Structure ​[ edit ]

In human anatomy, the tibia is the second largest bone next to the femur. As in other
vertebrates the tibia is one of two bones in the lower leg, the other being the fibula, and is a
component of the knee and ankle joints.

The ossification or formation of the bone starts from three centers; one in the shaft and one in
each extremity.

The tibia is categorized as a long bone and is as such composed of a diaphysis and two
epiphyses. The diaphysis is the midsection of the tibia, also known as the shaft or body. While
the epiphyses are the two rounded extremities of the bone; an upper (also known as superior or
proximal) closest to the thigh and a lower (also known as inferior or distal) closest to the foot.
The tibia is most contracted in the lower third and the distal extremity is smaller than the
proximal.

Upper extremity ​[ edit ]

The proximal or
upper extremity
of the tibia is
expanded in
the transverse
plane with a
medial and
lateral condyle,
which are both
flattened in the
Knee
Upper surface of right tibia. (Anterior
horizontal
is at top.) plane. The
medial condyle is the larger of the two and is better
supported over the shaft. The upper surfaces of the
condyles articulate with the femur to form the tibiofemoral joint, the weightbearing part of the
kneejoint.[1]

The medial and lateral condyle are separated by the intercondylar area, where the cruciate
ligaments and the menisci attach. Here the medial and lateral intercondylar tubercle forms the
intercondylar eminence. Together with the medial and lateral condyle the intercondylar region
forms the tibial plateau, which both articulates with and is anchored to the lower extremity of the
femur. The intercondylar eminence divides the intercondylar area into an anterior and posterior
part. The anterolateral region of the anterior intercondylar area are perforated by numerous
small openings for nutrient arteries.[1]
The articular surfaces of both condyles are concave,
particularly centrally. The flatter outer margins are in contact with the menisci. The medial
condyles superior surface is oval in form and extends laterally onto the side of medial
intercondylar tubercle. The lateral condyles superior surface is more circular in form and its
medial edge extends onto the side of the lateral intercondylar tubercle. The posterior surface of
the medial condyle bears a horizontal groove for part of the attachment of the
semimembranosus muscle, whereas the lateral condyle has a circular facet for articulation with
the head of the fibula.[1]
Beneath the condyles is the tibial tuberosity which serves for
attachment of the patellar ligament, a continuation of the quadriceps femoris muscle.[1]

Facets ​[ edit ]

The superior articular surface presents two smooth articular facets.

The medial facet, oval in shape, is slightly concave from side to side, and from before
backward.
The lateral, nearly circular, is concave from side to side, but slightly convex from before
backward, especially at its posterior part, where it is prolonged on to the posterior surface for
a short distance.

The central portions of these facets articulate with the condyles of the femur, while their
peripheral portions support the menisci of the knee joint, which here intervene between the two
bones.

Intercondyloid eminence ​[ edit ]

Between the articular facets in the intercondylar area, but nearer the posterior than the anterior
aspect of the bone, is the intercondyloid eminence (spine of tibia), surmounted on either side
by a prominent tubercle, on to the sides of which the articular facets are prolonged; in front of
and behind the intercondyloid eminence are rough depressions for the attachment of the
anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments and the menisci.

Surfaces ​[ edit ]

The anterior surfaces of the condyles are continuous with one another, forming a large
somewhat flattened area; this area is triangular, broad above, and perforated by large vascular
foramina; narrow below where it ends in a large oblong elevation, the tuberosity of the tibia,
which gives attachment to the patellar ligament; a bursa intervenes between the deep surface of
the ligament and the part of the bone immediately above the tuberosity.

Posteriorly, the condyles are separated from each other by a shallow depression, the posterior
intercondyloid fossa, which gives attachment to part of the posterior cruciate ligament of the
knee-joint. The medial condyle presents posteriorly a deep transverse groove, for the insertion
of the tendon of the semimembranosus.

Its medial surface is convex, rough, and prominent; it gives attachment to the medial collateral
ligament.

The lateral condyle presents posteriorly a flat articular facet, nearly circular in form, directed
downward, backward, and lateralward, for articulation with the head of the fibula. Its lateral
surface is convex, rough, and prominent in front: on it is an eminence, situated on a level with
the upper border of the tuberosity and at the junction of its anterior and lateral surfaces, for the
attachment of the iliotibial band. Just below this a part of the extensor digitorum longus takes
origin and a slip from the tendon of the biceps femoris is inserted.

Shaft ​[ edit ]

The shaft or body of the tibia is triangular in cross-

section and forms three borders: An anterior, medial
and lateral or interosseous border. These three borders
form three surfaces; the medial, lateral and posterior.[2]
The forward flat part of the tibia is called the fibia, often
confused with the fibula.[3]

Borders ​[ edit ]

The anterior crest or border, the most prominent of

the three, commences above at the tuberosity, and
ends below at the anterior margin of the medial
malleolus. It is sinuous and prominent in the upper two-
thirds of its extent, but smooth and rounded below; it
gives attachment to the deep fascia of the leg.

The medial border is smooth and rounded above and

below, but more prominent in the center; it begins at the
back part of the medial condyle, and ends at the
posterior border of the medial malleolus; its upper part
gives attachment to the tibial collateral ligament of the
knee-joint to the extent of about 5 cm., and insertion to
some fibers of the popliteus muscle; from its middle
third some fibers of the soleus and flexor digitorum
longus muscles take origin.

The interosseous crest or lateral border is thin and

prominent, especially its central part, and gives
attachment to the interosseous membrane; it
commences above in front of the fibular articular facet,
and bifurcates below, to form the boundaries of a
triangular rough surface, for the attachment of the
Bones of the right leg. Anterior
interosseous ligament connecting the tibia and fibula.
surface

Surfaces ​[ edit ]

The medial surface is smooth, convex, and broader above than below; its upper third, directed
forward and medialward, is covered by the aponeurosis derived from the tendon of the sartorius,
and by the tendons of the Gracilis and Semitendinosus, all of which are inserted nearly as far
forward as the anterior crest; in the rest of its extent it is subcutaneous.

The lateral surface is narrower than the medial; its upper two-thirds present a shallow groove
for the origin of the Tibialis anterior; its lower third is smooth, convex, curves gradually forward
to the anterior aspect of the bone, and is covered by the tendons of the Tibialis anterior,
Extensor hallucis longus, and Extensor digitorum longus, arranged in this order from the medial
side.

The posterior surface presents, at its upper part, a prominent ridge, the popliteal line, which
extends obliquely downward from the back part of the articular facet for the fibula to the medial
border, at the junction of its upper and middle thirds; it marks the lower limit of the insertion of
the Popliteus, serves for the attachment of the fascia covering this muscle, and gives origin to
part of the Soleus, Flexor digitorum longus, and Tibialis posterior. The triangular area, above
this line, gives insertion to the Popliteus. The middle third of the posterior surface is divided by a
vertical ridge into two parts; the ridge begins at the popliteal line and is well-marked above, but
indistinct below; the medial and broader portion gives origin to the Flexor digitorum longus, the
lateral and narrower to part of the Tibialis posterior. The remaining part of the posterior surface
is smooth and covered by the Tibialis posterior, Flexor digitorum longus, and Flexor hallucis
longus. Immediately below the popliteal line is the nutrient foramen, which is large and directed
obliquely downward.

Lower extremity ​[ edit ]

The distal end of the tibia is much smaller than the

proximal end and presents five surfaces; it is prolonged
downward on its medial side as a strong pyramidal
process, the medial malleolus. The lower extremity of
the tibia together with the fibula and talus forms the
ankle joint.

Surfaces ​[ edit ]

The inferior articular surface is quadrilateral, and Lower extremity of tibia seen from
the front
smooth for articulation with the talus. It is concave from
before backward, broader in front than behind, and
traversed from before backward by a slight elevation,
separating two depressions. It is continuous with that
on the medial malleolus.

The anterior surface of the lower extremity is smooth

and rounded above, and covered by the tendons of the
Extensor muscles; its lower margin presents a rough
transverse depression for the attachment of the
articular capsule of the ankle-joint.
Lower extremity of tibia seen from
The posterior surface is traversed by a shallow groove the back

directed obliquely downward and medialward,

continuous with a similar groove on the posterior surface of the talus and serving for the
passage of the tendon of the Flexor hallucis longus.

The lateral surface presents a triangular rough depression for the attachment of the inferior
interosseous ligament connecting it with the fibula; the lower part of this depression is smooth,
covered with cartilage in the fresh state, and articulates with the fibula. The surface is bounded
by two prominent borders (the anterior and posterior colliculi), continuous above with the
interosseous crest; they afford attachment to the anterior and posterior ligaments of the lateral
malleolus.

The medial surface -- see medial malleolus for details.

Fractures ​[ edit ]

Ankle fractures of the tibia have several classification systems based on location or mechanism:

Medial malleolus - Herscovici classification

Posterior malleolus - Haruguchi classification
Mechanism - Lauge-Hansen classification

Blood supply ​[ edit ]

The tibia is supplied with blood from two sources: A nutrient artery, as the main source, and
periosteal vessels derived from the anterior tibial artery.[4]

Joints ​[ edit ]

The tibia is a part of four joints; the knee, ankle, superior and inferior tibiofibular joint.

In the knee the tibia forms one of the two articulations with the femur, often referred to as the
tibiofemoral components of the knee joint.[5][6] This is the weightbearing part of the knee joint.[2]
The tibiofibular joints are the articulations between the tibia and fibula which allows very little
movement.[citation needed]
The proximal tibiofibular joint is a small plane joint. The joint is formed
between the undersurface of the lateral tibial condyle and the head of fibula. The joint capsule is
reinforced by anterior and posterior ligament of the head of the fibula.[2]
The distal tibiofibular
joint (tibiofibular syndesmosis) is formed by the rough, convex surface of the medial side of the
distal end of the fibula, and a rough concave surface on the lateral side of the tibia.[2]

The part of the ankle joint known as the talocrural joint, is a synovial hinge joint that connects
the distal ends of the tibia and fibula in the lower limb with the proximal end of the talus. The
articulation between the tibia and the talus bears more weight than between the smaller fibula
and the talus.[citation needed]

Development ​[ edit ]

The tibia is
ossified from
three centers; a
primary center
for the
diaphysis
(shaft) and a
secondary
center for each
 epiphysis
(extremity).
Ossification
Plan of ossification of the tibia. From begins in the
three centers.
center of the
body, about the
seventh week of fetal life, and gradually extends toward
the extremities.

The center for the upper epiphysis appears before or Epiphysial lines of tibia and fibula in
shortly after birth at close to 34 weeks gestation; it is a young adult. Anterior aspect.
flattened in form, and has a thin tongue-shaped process
in front, which forms the tuberosity; that for the lower
epiphysis appears in the second year.

The lower epiphysis fuses with the tibial shaft at about the eighteenth, and the upper one fuses
about the twentieth year.

Two additional centers occasionally exist, one for the tongue-shaped process of the upper
epiphysis, which forms the tuberosity, and one for the medial malleolus.

Function ​[ edit ]

Muscle attachments ​[ edit ]

Muscle Direction Attachment[7]

Tensor fasciae latae muscle Insertion Gerdy's tubercle
Quadriceps femoris muscle Insertion Tuberosity of the tibia
Sartorius muscle Insertion Pes anserinus
Gracilis muscle Insertion Pes anserinus
Semitendinosus muscle Insertion Pes anserinus
Horizontal head of the semimembranosus
Insertion Medial condyle
muscle
Posterior side of the tibia over the
Popliteus muscle Insertion
 soleal line
Tibialis anterior muscle Origin Lateral side of the tibia
Extensor digitorum longus muscle Origin Lateral condyle
Posterior side of the tibia under the
Soleus muscle Origin
soleal line
Posterior side of the tibia under the
Flexor digitorum longus muscle Origin
soleal line

Strength ​[ edit ]

The tibia has been modeled as taking an axial force during walking that is up to 4.7 bodyweight.
Its bending moment in the sagittal plane in the late stance phase is up to 71.6 bodyweight times
millimetre.[8]

Clinical significance ​[ edit ]

Fracture ​[ edit ]

Fractures of the tibia can be divided into those that only involve the tibia; bumper fracture,
Segond fracture, Gosselin fracture, toddler's fracture, and those including both the tibia and
fibula; trimalleolar fracture, bimalleolar fracture, Pott's fracture.

Society and culture ​[ edit ]

In Judaism, the tibia, or shankbone, of a goat is used in the Passover Seder plate.

Other animals ​[ edit ]

The structure of the tibia in most other tetrapods is essentially similar to that in humans. The
tuberosity of the tibia, a crest to which the patellar ligament attaches in mammals, is instead the
point for the tendon of the quadriceps muscle in reptiles, birds, and amphibians, which have no
patella.[9]

Additional images ​[ edit ]

Shape of right tibia 3D image Longitudinal section of

tibia showing interior

Right knee-joint. Anterior Right knee joint from the Left knee joint from
view. front, showing interior behind, showing interior
ligaments ligaments

Left talocrural joint Coronal section through Dorsum of Foot. Ankle

right talocrural and joint. Deep dissection
talocalcaneal joints

Dorsum of Foot. Ankle Ankle joint. Deep Bones of the right leg.
joint. Deep dissection dissection. Anterior view Anterior surface

Bones of the right leg. Dorsum of Foot. Ankle Ankle joint. Deep
Posterior surface joint. Deep dissection. dissection.

 Ankle joint. Deep Ankle joint. Deep Ankle joint. Deep

dissection. dissection. dissection.

See also ​[ edit ]

This article uses anatomical terminology.

Shin splints
Squatting facets

References ​[ edit ]

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 256 of the 20th edition of Gray's
Anatomy (1918)

1. ^ a b c d Drake, Richard L.; Vogl, A. Wayne; Mitchell, Adam W. M. (2010). Gray´s Anatomy for
Students (2nd ed.). pp. 558–560. ISBN 978-0-443-06952-9.[page needed]
2. ^ a b c d Drake, Richard L.; Vogl, A. Wayne; Mitchell, Adam W. M. (2010). Gray´s Anatomy for
Students (2nd ed.). pp. 584–588. ISBN 978-0-443-06952-9.
3. ^ "Chapter 12: THE BONES OF THE LOWER LIMB" . www.dartmouth.edu. Retrieved
2018-06-17.
4. ^ Nelson G, Kelly P, Peterson L, Janes J (1960). "Blood supply of the human tibia". J Bone Joint
Surg Am. 42-A (4): 625–36. doi:10.2106/00004623-196042040-00007 . PMID 13854090 .
5. ^ Rytter S, Egund N, Jensen LK, Bonde JP (2009). "Occupational kneeling and radiographic
tibiofemoral and patellofemoral osteoarthritis" . J Occup Med Toxicol. 4 (1): 19.
doi:10.1186/1745-6673-4-19 . PMC 2726153 . PMID 19594940 .
6. ^ Gill TJ, Van de Velde SK, Wing DW, Oh LS, Hosseini A, Li G (December 2009). "Tibiofemoral
and patellofemoral kinematics after reconstruction of an isolated posterior cruciate ligament
injury: in vivo analysis during lunge" . Am J Sports Med. 37 (12): 2377–85.
doi:10.1177/0363546509341829 . PMC 3832057 . PMID 19726621 .
7. ^ Bojsen-Møller, Finn; Simonsen, Erik B.; Tranum-Jensen, Jørgen (2001). Bevægeapparatets
anatomi [Anatomy of the Locomotive Apparatus] (in Danish) (12th ed.). pp. 364–367. ISBN 978-
87-628-0307-7.
8. ^ Wehner, T; Claes, L; Simon, U (2009). "Internal loads in the human tibia during gait". Clin
Biomech. 24 (3): 299–302. doi:10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2008.12.007 . PMID 19185959 .
9. ^ Romer, Alfred Sherwood; Parsons, Thomas S. (1977). The Vertebrate Body. Philadelphia, PA:
Holt-Saunders International. p. 205. ISBN 0-03-910284-X.

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Look up Tibia or shinbone

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v·t·e Bones of the human leg [hide]

head
(fovea) · neck · greater trochanter
(fossa) · lesser trochanter ·
upper extremity
intertrochanteric line · intertrochanteric crest · quadrate tubercle
linea aspera
(upper medial: merges with intertrochanteric line · upper
Femur shaft intermediate: pectineal line · upper lateral: gluteal tuberosity /
third trochanter)
adductor tubercle · patellar surface · epicondyles
(lateral · medial) ·
lower extremity
condyles
(lateral · medial) · intercondylar fossa
Gerdy's tubercle · condyles
(lateral · medial) · intercondylar area
(posterior
upper extremity
· anterior · intercondylar eminence · lateral tubercle · medial tubercle)
Tibia
shaft tuberosity · soleal line

lower extremity medial malleolus

(Anterior colliculus · Posterior colliculus) · fibular notch

Fibula lateral malleolus

Other patella
(apex)

calcaneus
(sustentaculum tali · calcaneal tubercle) · talus · navicular · cuboid ·
Tarsus
cuneiform
(medial · intermediate · lateral)
Foot
Metatarsals 1st · 2nd · 3rd · 4th · 5th

Other Phalanges

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Categories:
Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918) Tibia
Bones of the lower limb Long bones

This page was last edited on 1 October 2020, at 19:41 (UTC).

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