Anatomy of the bones of the lower limb

(Ossa membri inferioris)

Assistant of the Department of

Physiology and Anatomy, Institute
of Biology and Biomedicine
Danilova Darya Andreevna
 Bones of the lower limb (Ossa membri inferioris)

Bones of the pelvic girdle

( cingulum pelvicum
/cingulum membri inferior)
• Hip bone (Os coxae)
Bones of the free lower limb
(Pars libera membri superioris)
• The bones of the thigh
 Femur (os femoris)
• The bones of the leg
 Tibia
 Fibula
 Patella
• The bones of the foot
 Ossa tarsi
 Ossa metatarsi
 Ossa digitorum (phalanges)
 Hip bone (Os coxae) "innominate"

The hip bones meet anteriorly at the hip bone hip bone
pubic symphysis. Together with the
sacrum, they form a ring termed the bony
pelvis. os ilium
Each hip bone consists of: sacrum

• An ilium (os ilium) forms the

superior portion of the os coxa
os
• An ischium (os ischium) forms the pu
b is
lower posterior portion os ischium
• An pubis (os pubis) the lower
anterior portion
All three of which in the adult are fused
at the acetabulum to form a single bone.
 Hip bone (Os coxae) "innominate"

os ilium os ilium

os pubis

os
os pubis

sci
h
iu
m
os ischium
The acetabulum it receives the head of the femur to form the
acetabulofemoral joint, a ball-and-socket synovial joint.
 The ilium (Os ilium)
The ilium makes up the superior (or upper) region of the hip Spina iliaca posterior superior
bone.
ca
The ilium can be subdivided into two portions:
ilia
• An inferior region (near the acetabulum) - the body (corpus a
ir st
ossis ilii) С

Facies a
• A superior, fanned out portion called the wing (ala ossis ilii) ala ossis ilii
• Iliac crest (crista iliaca) –the thickened superior margin of
the wing

uri
• The anterior superior iliac spine (Spina iliaca anterior

cularis
superior) – anterior point of the iliac crest Spina iliaca anterior superior
• Anterior Inferior iliac spine (the anterior inferior iliac spine) -
anterior inferior point of the ilium
• The posterior superior iliac spine (Spina iliaca posterior Spina iliaca anterior inferior
superior) posterior point of the iliac crest
• Gluteal surface (facies glutea) – external surface
• Auricular surface (facies auricularis) - connects with the
sacrum via ligaments to form the sacroiliac joint.
• The arcuate line (linea arcuata) is a ridge that forms the
bottom border of the ilium, created by the change in
curvature between the upper and lower portions of the bone.
• The greater sciatic arch (incisura ischiadica major) is the
larger U-shaped indentation at the rear margin of the lower
ilium.
Incisura ischiadica major
 The ischium (Os ischium)
The ischium forms the posteroinferior part of the hip
bone.
It is composed of a body (corpus ossis ischii), an inferior
ramus and superior ramus (ramus ossis ischii superior et
inferior).

The inferior ischial ramus combines with the inferior

pubic ramus forming the ischiopubic ramus (ramus
ischiopubic), which encloses part of the obturator foramen.
Incisura ischiadica major
The posterorinferior aspect of the ischium forms the
ischial tuber (tuber ischiadicum) and when sitting, it is these Spina ischiadica
tuber on which our body weight falls.

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sup sis isch
r
Incisura ischiadica minor

erio
s
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Near the junction of the superior ramus and body is a

ram
posteromedial projection of bone; the ischial spine (spina

co
ischiadica), which divide the  greater sciatic notch (incisura

r
b ic

pu
pu

s
h io

os
ischiadica major) of the ilium and lesser sciatic notch i s c

sis
us
Tuber ischiadicum ram

isc
(incisura ischiadica minor) of the ischium

hi
i
 The pubis (Os pubis)
The pubis is the most anterior portion of the hip
bone. It consists of a body, superior ramus and
inferior ramus.
•Pubic body (corpus ossis pubis) – located medially, it
articulates with the opposite pubic body at the pubic
symphysis. Its superior aspect is marked by a rounded
thickening (the pubic crest), which extends laterally
as the pubic tubercle. Superior pubic ramus
•Superior pubic ramus – extends laterally from the
body to form part of the acetabulum.
corpus
•Inferior pubic ramus – projects towards the ischium. ossis pubis
Together, the superior and inferior rami enclose part
of the obturator foramen (foramen obturatoria) Foramen
obturatoria
– through which the obturator nerve, artery and vein
pass through to reach the lower limb.By  Inferior
pubic ramus
 Pelvis
Check yourself, remember and find
all the anatomical structures that we
have reviewed.
What bones form the pelvis?

Os femoris
Os femori
s
 The Femur (Os femoris)
Femur dextra

Proximal
epiphyses
The femur is the only bone
in the thigh and the longest
bone in the body.

It can be divided into Diaphysis

proximal and distal epiphyses
and diaphysis.

Distal
epiphyses

Anterior view Posterior view

 Proximal epiphyses of the femur
Femur dextra

The proximal aspect of the femur articulates Caput femoris

with the acetabulum of the pelvis to form the hip
joint.
•Head (caput femoris) – articulates with the
acetabulum of the pelvis to form the hip joint. It Proximal
epiphyses
has a smooth surface, covered with articular
cartilage (except for a small depression – the
fovea – where ligamentum teres attaches).
•Neck (collum femoris) – connects the head of
the femur with the shaft. It is cylindrical,
projecting in a superior and medial direction. It is
set at an angle of approximately 135 degrees to Collum femoris
the shaft. This angle of projection allows for an
Anterior view Posterior view
increased range of movement at the hip joint.
 Proximal epiphyses of the femur Femur dextra
• Greater trochanter (trochanter major) – the most lateral Trochanter major
palpable projection of bone that originates from the
anterior aspect, just lateral to the neck. Linea Crista
• Lesser trochanter (trochanter minor)  – smaller than the intertrochanterioca intertrochanterica
greater trochanter. It projects from the posteromedial side
of the femur, just inferior to the neck-shaft junction. Proximal
• Intertrochanteric line (linea intertrochanterioca) – a epiphyses
ridge of bone that runs in an inferomedial direction on the
anterior surface of the femur, spanning between the two
trochanters. After it passes the lesser trochanter on the
Linea pectinea
posterior surface, it is known as the pectineal line (linea
pectinea).
• Intertrochanteric crest (Crista intertrochanterica) – like
the intertrochanteric line, this is a ridge of bone that
connects the two trochanters. It is located on the posterior
surface of the femur.
There is a rounded tubercle on its superior half called the Trochanter minor
quadrate tubercle; where quadratus femoris attaches.
Anterior view Posterior view
 The shaft of the femur (corpus femoris)
Femur dextra
The shaft of the femur (corpus femoris)
descends in a slight medial direction.
On the posterior surface of the femoral
Linea pectinea
shaft, there are roughened ridges of bone - the
linea aspera (linea aspera). This splits distally to
Linea aspera
form the medial and lateral supracondylar lines.
The flat popliteal surface (facies poplitea) lies
between them. Diaphysis
Proximally, the medial border of the linea
aspera becomes the pectineal line. Linea supracondylaris Linea supracondylaris
Distally, the linea aspera widens and forms lateralis medialis
the floor of the popliteal fossa, the medial and Facies poplitea
lateral borders form the medial and lateral
supracondylar lines (linea supracondylaris
lateralis et medialis ).
Posterior view
 Distal epiphyses of the femur
The distal end of the femur is characterized by the
presence of the medial and lateral condyles, which Epicondylus
medialis et lateralis
articulate with the tibia and patella to form the knee
joint. Fossa intercondylaris
Medial and lateral condyles (Condylus medialis et
lateralis) – rounded areas at the end of the femur. The
posterior and inferior surfaces articulate with the tibia
and menisci of the knee, while the anterior surface
Distal
articulates with the patella Epiphyses
Medial and lateral epicondyles (Epicondylus
medialis et lateralis) – bony elevations on the non-
articular areas of the condyles. The medial epicondyle
is the larger. Condylus medialis et lateralis
Intercondylar fossa (fossa Intercondylaris) – a
deep notch on the posterior surface of the femur,
between the two condyles .
 Tibia

The tibia is the main bone

of the lower leg and lay at the proximal epiphyses
medial part of the leg.

It expands at its proximal Diaphysis

and distal epiphyses;
articulating at the knee and
ankle joints respectively.
distal epiphyses
 Proximal epiphyses of the tibia Tibia dextra

Facies
Eminentia articularis
The proximal end of the tibia is widened by the intercondylaris fibularis
medial and lateral condyles (condyles lateralis et
medialis), which aid in weight-bearing. This
structure articulates with the femoral condyles to
form the knee joint.
Intercondylar eminence (eminentia
intercondylaris) locates between the condyles. This Condyles medialis
projects upwards on either side as the medial and
lateral intercondylar tubercles (tuberculum
intercondylaris), which articulate with the
intercondylar fossa of the femur. Condyles lateralis
The articular surface for the fibula (Facies
articularis fibularis) locates on the posterior lateral
part of the proximal end of the tibia.
 The shaft of the tibia (corpus tibiae)
The shaft/body of the tibia (corpus tibiae) is prism- Margo Margo Margo
anterior posterior lateralis
shaped, with three borders and three surfaces;
anterior, posterior and lateral.
• Anterior border (margo anterior) – palpable
subcutaneously down the anterior surface of the
leg as the shin. The proximal aspect of the the
tibial tuberosity (tuberositas tibialis) anterior Tuberositas
border is marked by tibialis

• Posterior surface (facies posterior) – marked by a

ridge of bone - soleal line (linea m. solei). This
line is the site of origin for part of the soleus
muscle.
• Lateral border (margo lateralis / interosseous ) –
gives attachment to the interosseous membrane
that binds the tibia and the fibula together.
Tibia dextra
 Distal epiphyses of the tibia Tibia dextra

The distal end of the tibia widens to

assist with weight-bearing.
The medial malleolus (malleolus
medialis) is a bony projection continuing
inferiorly on the medial aspect of the tibia. It
articulates with the tarsal bones to form
part of the ankle joint. On the posterior Malleolus medialis
surface of the tibia, there is
a groove through which the tendon of
tibialis posterior passes.
Laterally is the fibular notch (incisura
fibularis), where the fibula is bound to the
Incisura fibularis
tibia – forming the distal tibiofibular joint.
 Fibula
The fibula is a bone located within the lateral
aspect of the leg. Its main function is to act as an
attachment for muscles, and not as a weight-bearer.
It has three main articulations:
•Proximal tibiofibular joint – articulates with
the lateral condyle of the tibia.
•Distal tibiofibular joint – articulates with the
fibular notch of the tibia.
•Ankle joint – articulates with the talus bone of
the foot.
 Fibula Apex cpitis fibulae
Facies articularis
Proximal cpitis fibulae
At the proximal end, the fibula has an enlarged head (caput fibulae),
Caput fibulae
which contains a facet for articulation (facies articularis cpitis
fibulae) with the lateral condyle of the tibia. At the tip of the head
fibula is triangle-shaped (apex cpitis fibulae)

Shaft
The fibular shaft has three surfaces – anterior, lateral and posterior
(Facies anterior, posterior et lateral) and three borders (Margo Margo anterior
anterior, posterior, interosseus/medialis). The leg is split into three
compartments, and each surface faces its respective compartment Margo posterior
e.g anterior surface faces the anterior compartment of the leg.
Margo interosseus
Distal
Distally, the lateral surface continues inferiorly, and is called
the lateral malleolus (malleolus lateralis). The lateral malleolus is Malleolus lateralis
more prominent than the medial malleolus, and can be palpated at
the ankle on the lateral side of the leg. At the distal end the fibula has
Facies articularis
a facet for articulation (facies articularis malleoli lateralis) the tarsal
malleoli lateralis
bones .
Check yourself, remember and find
all the anatomical structures that we
have reviewed.
Is it the right or left leg’s bones?

L M M L

Anterior view Posterior view

 The bones of the foot (Ossa pedis)
The bones of the foot provide mechanical support for the soft tissues;
helping the foot withstand the weight of the body whilst standing and
in motion.
They can be divided into three groups:
• Tarsals – a set of seven irregularly shaped bones. They are situated
proximally in the foot in the ankle area.
fo ot Hind foot
d
• Metatarsals – connect the phalanges to the tarsals. There are five Mi
in number – one for each digit. navic
ular talus
• Phalanges – the bones of the toes. Each toe has three phalanges – cuneif
orms
proximal, intermediate, and distal (except the big toe, which only o t cu
bo
o
ref
has two phalanges). id
o calcaneus
The foot can also be divided up into three regions: F
1. Hind foot
• Talus (Talus)
• Calcaneus; Ossa Tarsi (7)
2. Midfoot:
• Navicular (Os naviculare)
• Cuboid (Os cuboideum) Ossa Metatarsi (5)
• Cuneiforms (Os cuneiforme mediale, intermedium, laterale) Ossa digitorum (14)
3. Forefoot
• Metatarsals (Os matatarsi)
• Phalanges (Phalanx)
Check yourself, remember and find
all the anatomical structures that we
have reviewed.