Lower extremity of tibia

Lower extremity of tibia

Lower extremity of tibia seen from the front

Lower extremity of tibia seen from the back
Details
Latin Extremitas distalis tibiae
Identifiers
Gray's p.259
FMA 33116
Anatomical terms of bone

The lower extremity of the tibia, much smaller than the upper extremity of tibia, presents five surfaces; it is prolonged downward on its medial side as a strong process, the medial malleolus.

Surfaces

The inferior articular surface is quadrilateral, and smooth for articulation with the talus. It is concave from before backward, broader in front than behind, and traversed from before backward by a slight elevation, separating two depressions. It is continuous with that on the medial malleolus.

The anterior surface of the lower extremity is smooth and rounded above, and covered by the tendons of the Extensor muscles; its lower margin presents a rough transverse depression for the attachment of the articular capsule of the ankle-joint.

The posterior surface is traversed by a shallow groove directed obliquely downward and medialward, continuous with a similar groove on the posterior surface of the talus and serving for the passage of the tendon of the Flexor hallucis longus.

The lateral surface presents a triangular rough depression for the attachment of the inferior interosseous ligament connecting it with the fibula; the lower part of this depression is smooth, covered with cartilage in the fresh state, and articulates with the fibula. The surface is bounded by two prominent borders (the anterior and posterior colliculi), continuous above with the interosseous crest; they afford attachment to the anterior and posterior ligaments of the lateral malleolus.

The medial surface -- see medial malleolus for details.

Fractures

Ankle fractures of the tibia have several classification systems based on location or mechanism:

Additional Images

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)