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Lower Limbs – Part I Bones of the Lower Limbs
Pelvic Girdle
The lower limb is attached solidly to the coxal bone and functions
in support and movement
Consists of
o Sacrum
o Right and left coxal bones formed from the fusion of
ilium
ischium
pubis
Pelvic (Hip) Girdle
Two hip bones (each also called coxal bone or os coxae)
o Attach the lower limbs to the axial skeleton with strong
ligaments
o Transmit weight of upper body to lower limbs
o Support pelvic organs
Each hip bone consists of three fused bones: ilium, ischium, and
pubis
Together with the sacrum and the coccyx, these bones form the
bony pelvis
Hip Bone
Three regions
Ilium
o Superior region of the coxal bone
o Auricular surface articulates with the sacrum (sacroiliac joint)
Ischium
o Posteroinferior part of hip bone
Pubis
o Anterior portion of hip bone
o Midline pubic symphysis joint
Coxal bones
The coxal bones articulate:
o With each other at the pubic symphysis
o With the sacrum at the sacroiliac joint
o With the femur at the acetabulum
Muscles attach to:
o Anterior iliac spines and the ischial
tuberosities
Ligaments attach to
o The posterior iliac spines, ischial spines,
and ischial tuberosities
The female pelvis has a larger pelvic inlet and
outlet than the male pelvis
The Lower Limb
Carries the weight of the body The thighbone is the femur
Subjected to exceptional forces Largest and strongest bone in the body
Three segments of the lower limb o The femur articulates with the coxal bone
o Thigh: femur (head), the tibia (medial and lateral
o Leg: tibia and fibula condyles), and the patella (patellar groove)
o Foot: 7 tarsal bones in the ankle, 5 o Sites of muscle attachment are the greater
metatarsal bones in the metatarsus, and 14 and lesser trochanters, as well as the
phalanges in the toes adductor tubercle
o Sites of ligament attachment are the lateral
and medial epicondyles
The leg consists of the tibia and the fibula
o The tibia articulates with the femur, the fibula, and the talus
o The fibula articulates with the tibia and the talus
o Tendons from the thigh muscles attach to the tibial tuberosity
Bones of the Leg
Tibia
o Medial leg bone
o Receives the weight of the body
from the femur and transmits it to
the foot
Fibula
o Not weight bearing; no articulation
with femur
o Site of muscle attachment
o Connected to tibia by interosseous
membrane
o Articulates with tibia via proximal
and distal tibiofibular joints
Ankle and Foot
Seven tarsal bones form the proximal portion of the foot and five metatarsal bones form the distal portion
The toes have three phalanges each, except for the big toe, which has two
The bony arches transfer weight from the heels to the toes and allow the foot to conform to many different
positions