The bones of the leg are essential for standing, walking, running, and jumping. They help support most of your body’s weight and give you the strength and balance you need to move. These bones are specially designed to handle large forces and pressures. In fact, the leg bones are some of the strongest and longest bones in the entire human body.

The leg is made up of:

• The femur (thigh bone)

• The patella (kneecap)

• The tibia (shinbone)

• The fibula (calf bone)

Patella (Kneecap)

The patella, or kneecap, sits in front of the knee joint in a groove called the patellofemoral groove of the femur.

• The top of the patella is attached to the quadriceps tendon.

• The bottom is connected to the patellar ligament.

The patella is the largest sesamoid bone in the body.
Sesamoid bones are special bones that grow inside tendons, usually in places with lots of bending or pressure. Other sesamoid bones can be found in the tendons of the hands and feet.

The patella protects the knee and helps the muscles move the joint smoothly.

Tibia (Shinbone)

The tibia is the main bone of the lower leg and is commonly known as the shinbone.

• It connects to the knee joint at the top and the ankle joint at the bottom.

• The tibia is the second largest bone in the body and can carry a huge amount of weight — over 1000 kg!

The tibia is a very strong, important bone that helps support the body when you stand, walk, and run.

Fibula (Calf Bone)

The fibula is the thinner bone on the outside of the lower leg.

• Unlike the tibia, the fibula does not carry much body weight.

• Its main job is to serve as an attachment point for muscles and ligaments around the knee and ankle.

The fibula connects to the tibia and the ankle at three joints:

• Proximal tibiofibular joint – near the knee.

• Distal tibiofibular joint – near the ankle.

• Ankle joint – connects to the talus bone of the foot.

Even though it’s not a major weight-bearing bone, the fibula helps stabilize the leg and supports muscle movement.

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