Tibia Flashcards

Study the tibia's condyles, shaft, tibial tuberosity, medial malleolus, articulations, muscle attachments, blood supply, and clinical anatomy.

Card 1 of 30Question

What is the tibia?

The larger, medial, and principal weight-bearing bone of the leg.

In This Section

1. What is the tibia?

The larger, medial, and principal weight-bearing bone of the leg.

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

Medial to the fibula, extending from the knee to the ankle.

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

The proximal end, shaft, and distal end.

4. Which structures form the superior articular surfaces of the proximal tibia?

The medial and lateral tibial condyles.

5. Which bones articulate with the superior surfaces of the tibial condyles?

The medial and lateral condyles of the femur.

6. What is the tibial plateau?

The expanded superior articular region of the tibia forming the tibial surfaces of the knee joint.

7. Which tibial plateau articular surface is typically larger and more concave?

The medial tibial articular surface.

8. What is the intercondylar eminence of the tibia?

A raised bony prominence between the medial and lateral tibial articular surfaces.

9. What are the two tubercles of the intercondylar eminence?

The medial and lateral intercondylar tubercles.

10. Where does the anterior cruciate ligament attach to the tibia?

The anterior intercondylar area of the tibia.

11. Where does the posterior cruciate ligament attach to the tibia?

The posterior intercondylar area of the tibia.

12. What is the tibial tuberosity?

A prominent roughened elevation on the anterior proximal tibia below the condyles.

13. Which ligament inserts onto the tibial tuberosity?

The patellar ligament.

14. What is Gerdy's tubercle?

A bony prominence on the anterolateral proximal tibia.

15. Which structure inserts onto Gerdy's tubercle?

The iliotibial tract.

16. Which muscle inserts onto the posterior proximal tibia above the soleal line?

The popliteus muscle.

17. What is the soleal line of the tibia?

An oblique ridge on the posterior proximal tibia that provides attachment for the soleus muscle.

18. What are the three borders of the tibial shaft?

The anterior, medial, and interosseous borders.

19. What are the three surfaces of the tibial shaft?

The medial, lateral, and posterior surfaces.

20. Which border of the tibia forms the palpable shin?

The anterior border of the tibial shaft.

21. Which structure attaches to the interosseous border of the tibia?

The interosseous membrane of the leg.

22. Which muscle originates from the lateral condyle and upper lateral surface of the tibia?

The tibialis anterior muscle.

23. Which three muscles insert onto the proximal medial surface of the tibia at the pes anserinus?

Sartorius, gracilis, and semitendinosus.

24. Which hamstring muscle inserts onto the posterior part of the medial tibial condyle?

The semimembranosus muscle.

25. What is the medial malleolus?

The downward-projecting medial portion of the distal tibia forming the prominence of the inner ankle.

26. Which bone articulates with the inferior articular surface of the distal tibia?

The trochlea of the talus.

27. What is the fibular notch of the tibia?

A concavity on the lateral distal tibia that accommodates the distal fibula.

28. Which ligament complex attaches to the medial malleolus?

The deltoid ligament complex of the ankle.

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

The nutrient artery, usually arising from the posterior tibial artery.

30. Why are open fractures relatively common along the anterior tibial shaft?

The anteromedial tibial surface has limited soft tissue coverage and lies close to the skin.