4O ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY FOR NURSES 



by a constricted neck. At the junction of neck and shaft 

 are found the greater and lesser trochanters. The lower 

 end of the bone is expanded to form two large condyles, 

 which articulate with the tibia and the patella. It 

 gives attachment to the strongest muscles of the body. 



The leg consists of two bones the tibia and the 

 fibula. The patella is a sesamoid bone embedded in the 

 tendon of the quadriceps. 



The tibia is the large bone on the inner side of the leg. 

 The upper portion is expanded to form two tuberosities 

 which articulate with the condyles of the femur to form 

 the knee-joint. The sharp anterior edge of the bone 



FIG. 21. Right patella: a, Anterior surface ; b, posterior surface 

 (Nancrede). 



is called the crest ("the shin"). The lower end of the tibia 

 is known as the inner malleolus, and articulates with the 

 astragalus, thus aiding in the formation of the ankle- 

 joint. 



The fibula is the long, slender bone on the outer side of 

 the leg. The upper end, or head, articulates by a flat facet 

 with the tibia and takes no part in forming the knee-joint. 

 The lower end of the bone is the outer malleolus and helps 

 to form the ankle-joint. A fracture of the lower fifth of 

 the fibula is commonly called a Potts' fracture. 



The patella, or knee-cap, is a flat, triangular bone 

 that helps to make up the knee-joint. The lower portion, 



