Also called: shin bone, shinbone
The tibia, or shin bone, is the large weight-bearing bone of the leg. Its proximal condyles articulate with the femur at the knee, and its distal end forms the medial malleolus and the upper surface of the ankle joint with the talus. The anterior border and medial surface lie just under the skin.
| Type | Long bone. |
|---|---|
| Location | Medial leg. |
| Landmarks | Medial and lateral condyles, intercondylar eminence, tibial tuberosity, anterior border, soleal line, medial malleolus, fibular notch. |
| Articulations | Femur (knee), fibula (superior and inferior tibiofibular joints), talus (ankle). |
| Muscle attachments | Quadriceps via the patellar ligament, sartorius, gracilis, semitendinosus (pes anserinus), semimembranosus, popliteus, soleus, tibialis anterior. |
3D model: BodyParts3D (CC BY 4.0), adult male reference anatomy. Highlighted structure shown with nearby bones for context.
The tibia carries almost all of the body weight through the leg. Its subcutaneous anterior border is easily palpable and makes open fractures common.
The tibia.
A bony prominence at the top of the shin where the patellar ligament attaches.
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