| The human leg includes all the bones between the hipbone and the foot. The large bone at the top of the leg is the femur (thighbone), which is the strongest bone of the body. The femur has a rounded head that fits into a socket in the hipbone to form a ball-and-socket joint. This joint enables the leg to move freely in almost any direction. At the knee the femur connects to the tibia (shinbone) to form a hinged joint, which permits back-and-forth movement. The joint is protected in front by a small triangular bone, called the patella (kneecap). The tibia is the supporting bone of the lower leg. It is attached via ligaments to a smaller bone called the fibula. The fibula provides an attachment site for leg muscles and does not provide supportive strength for the leg. |
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