FIBULA

Dr. Shabana Sultana

• lateral and smaller bone of
the leg, very thin and
homologous with the ulna.
SIDE DETERMINATION
1. head is slightly expanded in
all directions, lower end or
lateral malleolus is expanded
anteroposteriorly and is
flattened from side to side.
2. The medial side of the lower
end bears a triangular
articular facet anteriorly, and
a deep or malleolar fossa
posteriorly.
 UPPER END OR HEAD
• slightly expanded in all
directions.
• superior surface bears a circular
articular facet which articulates
with the lateral condyle of the
tibia.
• styloid process/ apex projects
upwards from its posterolateral
aspect-fibular collateral
ligament and arcuate lig.
• insertion of the biceps femoris
on the anterolateral slope of the
apex.
• constriction immediately below
the head is known as the neck of
the fibula – common peroneal n.
on lateral side and ant. tibial
vessels medially.
 SHAFT

• three borders—anterior,
posterior and
interosseous
• three surfaces—medial,
lateral and posterior.
 ANTERIOR BORDER
• begins just below the anterior
aspect of the head and at lower
end it divides to enclose an
triangular area which is
continuous with the lateral
surface of lateral malleolus.
• anterior intermuscular septum
of the leg( pierced by deep
peroneal n. in upper part)
• anterior margin of the triangular
area- superior extensor
retinaculum
• posterior margin of the
triangular area- superior
peroneal retinaculum
 INTEROSSEOUS OR MEDIAL BORDER
• just medial to the anterior
border, terminates below
at the upper end of a rough
triangular surface
(connected with fibular
notch of tibia by
interosseous inf. tibio
fibular lig.)..
• interosseous membrane,
gap at the upper end for
passage of the anterior
tibial vessels.
 POSTERIOR BORDER
• Rounded, upper end lies
in line with the styloid
process,
• Below- continuous with
medial margin of groove
on the back of lateral
malleolus.
• attachment - posterior
intermuscular septum.
 MEDIAL/EXTENSOR SURFACE
• narrow, between anterior
and interosseous borders.

• extensor digitorum longus:

whole of the upper one-
fourth, and anterior half of
the middle two-fourths;
• extensor hallucis longus:
posterior half of middle
two-fourths
• peroneus tertius: lower
one-fourth
 LATERAL / PERONEAL SURFACE
• Between anterior and
posterior borders, twisted
backwards in its lower part.

• peroneus longus- upper

one-third, and the posterior
half of the middle one-third
• peroneus brevis- from the
anterior half of its middle
one-third, and the whole of
the lower one-third.
 POSTERIOR/ FLEXOR SURFACE
• largest of the three
surfaces.
• Between interosseous and
posterior borders.
• upper two-thirds, divided
into 2 parts by a vertical
ridge called medial crest
(accompanied by peroneal
vessels).
• anterior concave part-
origin to the tibialis
posterior.
• post. Flattened part- soleus
in upper one-fourth and
flexor hallucis longus from
its lower three-fourths.
 LOWER END OR LATERAL MALLEOLUS
• The tip of the lateral malleolus is 1 cm
lower than that of the medial
malleolus, presents a notch for
calcaneofibular ligament.
• Anterior border- anterior talofibular
ligaments
• posterior surface- marked by a groove-
tendon of the peroneus brevis(deep),
and peroneus longus, (superficial).
• lateral surface- subcutaneous.
• medial surface -triangular articular
facet for the talus anteriorly and
malleolar fossa posteriorly- inferior
transverse tibiofibular ligament above
and posterior talofibular ligament
below.
• capsule of the ankle joint along the
edges of the malleolar articular surface
 OSSIFICATION
• one primary and two secondary
centres.
• 1 primary centre for the shaft-
eighth week of intrauterine life.
• secondary centre for lower end-
appears at 1st year, and fuses at 16th
year.
• secondary centre for upper end-
appears at fourth year, and fuses at
about18th year.
• fibula violates the law of
ossification because the secondary
centre which appears first in the
lower end does not fuse last.
REASONS: (1) the secondary centre
appears first in the lower end
because it is a pressure epiphysis;
and (2) the upper epiphysis fuses
last because this is the growing end
of the bone .
Thank you