Fibula Flashcards

Study the fibula's head, neck, shaft, lateral malleolus, muscle attachments, articulations, blood supply, and clinical anatomy.

Card 1 of 30Question

What is the fibula?

The slender, lateral bone of the leg that provides muscular attachments and contributes to ankle stability.

In This Section

1. What is the fibula?

The slender, lateral bone of the leg that provides muscular attachments and contributes to ankle stability.

2. Where is the fibula located relative to the tibia?

Lateral to the tibia, extending from just below the knee to the lateral ankle.

3. What are the three major anatomical regions of the fibula?

The proximal end, shaft, and distal end.

4. What structures form the proximal end of the fibula?

The fibular head and neck.

5. Which part of the tibia articulates with the fibular head?

The fibular articular facet on the lateral tibial condyle.

6. What type of joint is the proximal tibiofibular joint?

A plane synovial joint.

7. Does the fibula articulate directly with the femur?

No. The fibula does not directly participate in the tibiofemoral articulation.

8. What is the styloid process of the fibula?

A pointed projection extending superiorly from the fibular head.

9. Which hamstring muscle inserts onto the fibular head?

The biceps femoris muscle.

10. Which knee ligament attaches to the fibular head?

The fibular collateral ligament, also called the lateral collateral ligament.

11. Which nerve winds around the neck of the fibula?

The common fibular nerve, also called the common peroneal nerve.

12. Which two terminal branches arise from the common fibular nerve near the fibular neck?

The superficial fibular nerve and deep fibular nerve.

13. What are the three principal borders of the fibular shaft?

The anterior, posterior, and interosseous borders.

14. What are the three principal surfaces of the fibular shaft?

The medial, lateral, and posterior surfaces.

15. Which structure attaches to the interosseous border of the fibula?

The interosseous membrane of the leg.

16. What is the main function of the interosseous membrane between the tibia and fibula?

To connect the two bones, provide muscular attachment, and help transmit forces.

17. Which muscle originates from the upper lateral fibular shaft and fibular head?

The fibularis longus muscle.

18. Which muscle originates mainly from the distal lateral surface of the fibula?

The fibularis brevis muscle.

19. Which anterior compartment muscle originates partly from the fibula and extends the great toe?

The extensor hallucis longus muscle.

20. Which deep posterior compartment muscle originates from the posterior surface of the fibula?

The flexor hallucis longus muscle.

21. What is the lateral malleolus?

The expanded distal end of the fibula forming the bony prominence on the lateral ankle.

22. How does the lateral malleolus compare with the medial malleolus in distal extent?

The lateral malleolus projects farther distally than the medial malleolus.

23. Which bone articulates with the medial articular surface of the lateral malleolus?

The talus.

24. What type of joint connects the distal tibia and fibula?

A fibrous syndesmosis, called the distal tibiofibular joint.

25. Which two ligaments connect the distal tibia and fibula anteriorly and posteriorly?

The anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament and posterior inferior tibiofibular ligament.

26. Which two lateral ankle ligaments attach to the lateral malleolus and talus?

The anterior talofibular ligament and posterior talofibular ligament.

27. Which ligament connects the lateral malleolus to the calcaneus?

The calcaneofibular ligament.

28. Which tendons pass posterior to the lateral malleolus?

The fibularis longus and fibularis brevis tendons.

29. Which artery usually provides the principal nutrient supply to the fibular shaft?

A nutrient branch of the fibular artery.

30. What neurological deficit may result from a fracture near the fibular neck?

Foot drop caused by injury to the common fibular nerve.