Anatomy Lower limb Overview

Main bones of the lower limb

Learning objectives

After completing this study unit you will be able to:

List the main groups of bones of the lower limb.
Understand the anatomical relations of the bones of the lower limb with each other.
Identify the main joints that the lower limb bones form with one another.

Watch video

For didactic purposes we will divide the bones of the lower limb into the following groups:

Pelvic girdle and thigh, consisting of the hip bone and femur
Bones of the leg, namely the tibia and fibula
Bones of the foot, divided into the 7 tarsal bones, 5 metatarsal bones and 14 phalanges

This video tutorial will provide you with an overview of each of the bones of the lower limb.

Take a quiz

Solidify your knowledge by taking our quiz on the bones of the lower limb.

To adjust your focus and choose the topics you’ll get quizzed on, try out our customizable quiz.

Browse atlas

Examine the bones of the lower limb one by one in the atlas gallery below.

Now let's take a look at the main joints of the lower limb.

Summary

Key points about the bones of the lower limb
Pelvic girdle and thigh	Hip bone (ilium, ischium and pubis), femur, patella
Leg	Tibia and fibula
Foot	Tarsal bones: Calcaneus, talus, navicular bone, cuboid, medial cuneiform, intermediate cuneiform, lateral cuneiform Metatarsal bones: 1-5 Phalanges: Proximal (5), middle (4), distal (5)
Main joints	Sacroiliac joint, pubic symphysis, hip joint, knee joint, superior tibiofibular joint, ankle joint, intertarsal joints, tarsometatarsal joints, metatarsophalangeal joints, interphalangeal joints of foot

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