Medical Gross Anatomy

Anatomy Tables - Bones of the Lower Limb - Listed in

Proximal to Distal Order

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Bone Structure Description Notes

pubis an angulated bone one of three bones that form the os coxae:
the forms the ilium, ischium, pubis; its body forms 1/5 of
anterior part of the acetabulum; its symphyseal surface
the pelvis unites with the pubis of the opposite side to
form the pubic symphysis; the superior and
inferior pubic rami participate in the
formation of the obturator foramen
body superolateral the body of the pubis forms about 1/5 of the
portion of the acetabulum
pubis
pubic crest ridge on the attachment of rectus abdominis &
superior border of pyramidalis mm.
the superior
ramus
pubic tubercle process at the attachment point of the medial end of the
lateral end of inguinal ligament
pubic crest
superior ramus superior "limb" articulates with the superior ramus of the
that passes opposite side at the pubic symphysis
medially from the
body of the pubis
pecten ridge on superior attachment point of the pectineal ligament
surface of the
superior pubic
ramus
inferior ramus inferior "limb" articulates with the ischial ramus to form the
that passes ischiopubic ramus; attachment site for the
inferolaterally root of the penis (clitoris)
from the pubic
symphysis
obturator groove on the marks the area of passage of the obturator
groove inferior surface of vessels and n. in the obturator canal
 the superior pubic
ramus
ischium the "V"- shaped one of the three bones that form the os
bone that forms coxae: ilium, ischium, pubis
the
posteroinferior
part of the pelvis
ischial ramus the limb of the it articulates with the inferior ramus of the
ischium that pubis to form ischiopubic ramus
passes anteriorly
and
superomedially
toward the pubis
body the part of the it articulates with the ilium and the pubis at
ischium that the acetabulum; the body of the ischium
participates in the forms 2/5 of the acetabulum
formation of the
acetabulum
ischial the roughened it is the site of attachment of the
tuberosity projection that sacrotuberous ligament; it is the site of
protrudes origin of the inferior gemellus m., quadratus
posteroinferiorly femoris m. and the hamstring mm.
from the body of (semitendinosus, semimembranosus, long
the ischium head of biceps femoris, ischiocondylar
portion of the adductor magnus)
lesser sciatic the notch located the lesser sciatic notch is converted to the
notch between the lesser sciatic foramen by the sacrospinous
ischial tuberosity ligament and the sacrotuberous ligament
and the ischial
spine
ischial spine the spine that it is the site of attachment of the
arises just sacrospinous ligament and the site of origin
superior to the of the superior gemellus m.
lesser sciatic
notch
ilium fan-shaped bone one of three bones that form the os coxae:
that forms the ilium, ischium, pubis
lateral
prominence of the
pelvis
body the portion of the the body of the ilium forms 2/5 of the
ilium that acetabulum
participates in the
formation of the
acetabulum
 iliac crest arching superior attachment for abdominal wall muscles
edge the ilium
that forms the rim
of the "fan"
iliac fossa broad depression iliac fossa is part of the false (greater) pelvis
on the medial
surface of the
ilium
iliac tubercle roughened area
along the outer
edge of the iliac
crest
greater sciatic the notch on the the greater sciatic notch is converted to the
notch inferior portion of greater sciatic foramen by the sacrospinous
ilium located ligament and the sacrotuberous ligament
posteromedial to
the ischial spine
anterior spine at the lateral attachment of the inguinal ligament
superior iliac anterior end of
spine the iliac crest
posterior spine at the position marked by a dimpling of the skin
superior iliac posterior end of
spine the iliac crest
anterior inferior inferior to attachment site of straight head of rectus
iliac spine anterior superior femoris m.
iliac spine
arcuate line ridge running inferior boundary of the iliac fossa; marks
from the plane of transition from abdominal
anteroinferior to cavity to pelvic cavity
posterosuperior
on the inner
surface of the
ilium
sacrum a triangular bone it is formed by 5 fused vertebrae; the sacrum
that is the and two os coxae bones form the pelvis
posterior skeletal
element forming
the pelvis
the base of the sacrum includes the articular
the superior part
base surface for the fifth lumbar vertebra and the
of the sacrum
superior portion of the two ala
promontory a projection of the the body of the fifth lumbar vertebra sits on
superior part of the sacral promontory and articulates with it
the sacrum in an through a symphysis
anterior direction
 ala the lateral portion paired; it projects laterally from the body of
of the sacrum the sacrum; it represents the fused costal and
transverse processes of the first sacral
vertebra
anterior sacral an opening in the there are four pairs; each transmits the
foramina anterior surface ventral primary ramus of the respective
of the sacrum sacral spinal nerve; branches of the lateral
sacral aa. Enter the sacral canal through
these openings
posterior sacral an opening in the there are four pairs; each transmits the dorsal
foramina posterior surface primary ramus of the respective sacral spinal
of the sacrum nerve
sacral canal the opening in the it is the continuation of the vertebral canal at
center of the sacral vertebral levels
sacrum
sacral hiatus an opening in the it is a normal feature that results from the
posterior surface failure of fusion of the laminae of the fifth
of the sacrum in sacral segment (and sometimes the fourth)
the midline during development
articular surface the roughened this surface articulates with the ilium in the
area located on sacroiliac articulation
the lateral surface
of the sacrum
body the central the body is equivalent to the bodies of the
portion of the other vertebra
sacrum
base the superior the base of the sacrum articulates with the
surface of the fifth lumbar vertebra through an
sacrum intervertebral disk
coccyx the most inferior the coccyx results from the fusion of the four
portion of the coccygeal vertebrae; it may be a single bone
vertebral column or the first coccygeal vertebra may be
separated from the other three; it articulates
with the fifth sacral segment; coccygeal
vertebrae are reduced in complexity, having
no pedicles, laminae or spines
femur the bone of the the femur is the longest and strongest bone
thigh in the body
head smooth, rounded the head of the femur articulates with the
proximal end acetabulum of the pelvis
fovea capitis a shallow pit in it is the attachment site of the ligamentum
femoris the head of the capitis femoris; a small artery for supply of
femur the head is found within this ligament
neck the constricted most of the blood supply to the head of the
area distal to the femur courses along the surface of the neck;
head of the femur fractures of the neck of the femur may result
in avascular necrosis of the head
greater a large process the greater trochanter is the insertion site of
trochanter that projects the gluteus medius m., gluteus minimus m.,
superiorly from piriformis m. and obturator internus m.
the junction of the
neck and shaft of
the femur
gluteal a roughened area it is one of the insertion sites of the gluteus
tuberosity located on the maximus m.
posterior surface
of the femur at
the superior end
of the lateral lip
of the linea aspera
lesser trochanter a large process it is the insertion site of the common tendon
that projects from of the psoas major and iliacus mm.
the posteromedial (iliopsoas m.)
surface of the
femur just distal
to neck
trochanteric a depression on it is the insertion site of the obturator
fossa the medial side of externus m.
the greater
trochanter on its
posterior surface
where the greater
trochanter joins
the neck
intertrochanteric a ridge on the it is the line of attachment of the fibrous
line anterior surface joint capsule
of the femur that
connects the
greater and lesser
trochanters
intertrochanteric a heavy ridge on the quadratus femoris m. inserts on the
crest the posterior intertrochanteric crest
surface of the
femur that
connects the
greater and lesser
trochanters
body the long slender the linea aspera runs the entire length of the
shaft of the femur posterior surface of the body
 linea aspera a vertical ridge on it is the insertion site of the medial
posterior surface (adductor) group of thigh muscles and the
of the femur origin of the vastus intermedius m. and the
short head of the biceps femoris m.
adductor a process that it is the insertion site of the ischiocondylar
tubercle projects superior part of the adductor magnus m.
to the medial
epicondyle of the
femur
medial the enlargement it is the attachment site of the tibial collateral
epicondyle of bone on the ligament of the knee joint
medial side of the
femur just
superior to the
medial condyle
lateral the enlargement it is the attachment site of the fibular
epicondyle of bone on the collateral ligament and the site of origin of
lateral side of the the popliteus m.
femur just
superior to the
lateral condyle
medial condyle the rounded it articulates with the medial condyle of the
inferior end of the tibia
femur on the
medial side
lateral condyle the rounded it articulates with the lateral condyle of the
inferior end of the tibia
femur on the
lateral side
intercondylar the deep the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments
fossa depression on the are located here
posterior surface
of the femur
between the
condyles
patellar surface the smooth it articulates with the posterior surface the
anterior surface at patella
the inferior end of
the femur
patella the bone that the patella is a sesamoid bone in the tendon
forms the knee of the quadriceps femoris muscle; it provides
cap a protective function by withstanding the
grinding forces of the quadriceps femoris
tendon against the patellar surface of the
femur, especially in full knee flexion
tibia the bone on the the tibia is the weight-bearing bone of the
medial side of the leg
leg
medial condyle the heavy the medial condyle articulates with the
prominence on medial condyle of the femur; it is larger than
the medial side of the lateral condyle of the tibia
the proximal end
of the tibia
lateral condyle the heavy the lateral condyle articulates with the lateral
prominence on condyle of the femur and with the head of
the lateral side of the fibula
the proximal end
of the tibia
intercondylar the ridge of bone the intercondylar eminence has a medial and
eminence on the proximal a lateral tubercle; it is the attachment site for
end of the tibia the cruciate ligaments, medial meniscus and
that projects lateral meniscus
between the
condyles
tibial tuberosity the roughened it is the attachment site of the patellar
protuberance on ligament, which represents the insertion of
the anterior the quadriceps femoris tendon
surface of the
tibia located just
distal to the
condyles
body the long, robust the medial surface of the body of the tibia is
shaft of the tibia subcutaneous throughout its length; when
the shin is painfully bumped, the nerve
endings are stimulated in the periosteum
covering the body of the tibia
interosseous the sharp ridge the interosseous membrane attaches to the
border that runs interosseous border of the tibia
longitudinally
along the junction
of the lateral
surface and the
posterior surface
of the tibia
soleal line a ridge of bone it is the site of origin of the soleus m.
that descends
obliquely from
lateral to medial
on the posterior
surface of the
tibia
 medial the large bony the medial malleolus of the tibia forms the
malleolus prominence on medial side of the ankle joint; it articulates
the medial side of with the medial surface of the talus
the ankle
fibula the slender bone the fibula is not a weight-bearing bone, it is
on the lateral side a muscle attachment bone
of the leg
head the enlarged it articulates with the lateral condyle of tibia;
proximal end of the fibular collateral ligament of the knee
the fibula attaches to the head of the fibula
neck the constricted fractures of the neck of the fibula can injure
portion of the the common fibular n.
fibula located just
inferior to the
head
body the long slender the interosseous membrane attaches to the
shaft of the fibula entire length of the interosseous border of
the fibula
interosseous the sharp ridge the interosseous membrane attaches to the
border that runs interosseous border of the fibula
longitudinally
along the medial
surface of the
fibula
lateral the enlarged distal the lateral malleolus of the fibula forms the
malleolus end of the fibula lateral side of the ankle joint; it articulates
with the lateral surface of the talus; forcible
lateral displacement of the foot can cause the
fibula to fracture superior to the lateral
malleolus, a condition called a Pott's fracture
tarsal the bones of the there are seven tarsal bones: talus, calcaneus,
bones ankle navicular, medial cuneiform, intermediate
cuneiform, lateral cuneiform, cuboid
the talus articulates with the medial
the most proximal malleolus of the tibia and the lateral
talus
of the tarsal bones malleolus of the fibula to form the ankle
mortise joint
body the proximal part its superior (trochlear) part participates in
of the talus the ankle joint and its inferior part articulates
with the calcaneus
trochlea the superior it has a smooth articular surface; it
portion of the participates in the formation of the ankle
body of the talus joint
that lies between
the two malleoli
 head the portion of the it articulates with the navicular bone
talus that projects
anteriorly
neck the constricted
part of the talus
located proximal
to the head
calcaneus the tarsal bone it is the largest and strongest bone in the
which forms the foot; a fracture of the calcaneus which
heel separates the tuberosity from the body can
be a debilitating injury
calcaneal the posterior it is the insertion site of the calcaneal
tuberosity roughened area of (Achilles') tendon
the calcaneus
which contacts
the ground during
weight-bearing
sustentaculum the shelf-like it is a shelf of bone that articulates with and
tali medial projection supports the talus; it is grooved inferiorly by
of bone located the tendon of the flexor hallucis longus m.
inferior to the
medial malleolus
navicular the tarsal bone it articulates with the head of the talus and
located distal to all three cuneiform bones; it is the
the talus and attachment site for an important ligament
proximal to the (plantar calcaneonavicular or "spring"
three cuneiform ligament) that supports the medial
bones longitudinal arch of the foot
cuneiform, the most medial the cuneiform bones articulate with the
medial bone in the distal navicular bone proximally and the bases of
row of tarsal the metatarsal bones distally
bones
cuneiform, the intermediate the cuneiform bones articulate with the
middle bone of the three navicular bone proximally and the bases of
cuneiform bones the metatarsal bones distally
cuneiform, the bone that is the cuneiform bones articulate with the
lateral located between navicular bone proximally and the bases of
the middle the metatarsal bones distally
cuneiform and the
cuboid bone
cuboid the most lateral the cuboid bone articulates with the
bone in the distal calcaneus proximally and the fourth and fifth
row of tarsal metatarsal bones distally
bones
 metatarsals the bones located there are five metatarsal bones in the foot
between the tarsal
bones and the
phalanges
base the proximal end it articulates with the distal row of tarsal
of the metatarsal bones
body the slender shaft it is also known as the diaphysis
of the metatarsal
head the rounded distal it articulates with the proximal phalanx of
end of the the corresponding digit
metatarsal
phalanx the distal two or there are a total of 14 phalanges in the foot;
(phalanges) three bones in the the great toe has two phalanges (proximal
digits of the foot and distal) and each of the other four toes
has three phalanges (proximal, middle and
distal); phalanx means "line of soldiers"
base the proximal end the base of the proximal phalanx articulates
of the phalanx with the head of the corresponding
metatarsal bone; the base of the middle or
distal phalanx articulates with the head of
the next most proximal phalanx
body the slender shaft also known as the diaphysis; the body of the
of the phalanx distal phalanx is very short
head the distal end of the proximal, middle and distal phalanges
the phalanx each have a head; the head of a proximal or
middle phalanx articulates with the base of
the next most distal phalanx

The material presented in these tables is contained in the book: The excellent editorial assistance of
MedCharts Anatomy by Thomas R. Gest & Jaye Schlesinger Dr. Pat Tank, UAMS
Published by ILOC, Inc., New York is gratefully acknowledged.
Copyright © 1995, unauthorized use prohibited.

Copyright© 2000 The University of Michigan. Unauthorized

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