Bones of the Lower Limb

Bones of the Lower Limb

• The lower limb consists of the pelvic bones, femur, patella, tibia, fibula, and foot bones.
• The pelvic bones are composed of the sacrum and right and left hemipelvis.
• Each hemipelvis is composed of 3 bones that meet at the acetabulum, which articulates with the femur to form the hip joint.

The Femur

• The femur is the longest bone in the body.
• It articulates with the acetabulum from above to form the hip joint and with the tibia from below to form the knee joint.
• The femur is composed of the head, neck, shaft, trochanters, and condyles.

The Tibia and Fibula

• The tibia lies medially and the fibula lies laterally.
• The tibia articulates with the femur at the knee joint from above.
• Both the tibia and fibula articulate with the tarsal bones (talus) at the ankle joint from below.
• They also articulate with each other.

The Foot Bones

• The foot bones consist of 7 tarsal bones, 5 metatarsals, and 14 phalanges.
• The tarsal bones are: talus, calcaneum, navicular, cuboid, and 3 cuneiform bones.
• Each toe has 3 phalanges, except the big toe, which has 2 phalanges.

Muscles of the Lower Limb

• Anterior muscles (extensors) are found in the front of the lower limb.
• Posterior muscles (flexors) are found in the back of the lower limb.
• Medial muscles (adductors) are found in the middle of the lower limb.
• Anterior muscles (dorsiflexors and extensors of the digits) are found in the front of the foot.
• Posterior muscles (plantiflexors and flexors of the foot) are found in the back of the foot.
• Lateral muscles (evertors) are found on the sides of the foot.

Blood Supply

• The thigh is supplied by the femoral artery.
• At the back of the knee, it becomes the popliteal artery and divides into the anterior tibial artery, posterior tibial artery, and peroneal artery.
• These arteries supply the leg and foot.

Blood Vessels

• The anterior tibial artery becomes the dorsalis pedis artery in the dorsum of the foot.
• The posterior tibial artery divides into the medial and lateral plantar arteries.
• The leg and foot have deep and superficial veins.
• The deep veins are:
  • Dorsum of foot: dorsal venous arch that drains into the anterior tibial vein.
  • Plantar aspect: medial and lateral plantar veins that drain into the posterior tibial vein and fibular vein.
• At the back of the knee, the veins are:
  • Dorsal venous arch that drains into the anterior tibial vein.
  • Medial and lateral plantar veins that drain into the posterior tibial vein and fibular vein.