THE SKELETON 



33 



Tu. 



leg. The lateral condyle is grooved for the 

 head of the fibula. 



The tibia (Fig. 8) is a much 

 longer bone than the femur, 

 and is irregularly expanded at 

 its proximal end, where it 

 meets the bone of the thigh. 

 The distal end has two articu- 

 lar elevations separated by 

 a smooth groove. Strictly 

 speaking, this part of the tibia 

 represents the proximal row of 

 the tarsal bones, and the whole 

 bone should therefore be called 

 the tibio-tarsus. The fibula is 

 only feebly developed and con- 

 sists of a slender spicule of bone 

 expanded into a flattened head, 

 which articulates with the 

 lateral condyle of the femur. 



In the adult there is no 

 independent tarsus. In the 

 embryo there are indications of two rows of 

 elements ; but before long the proximal row fuses 

 with the tibia and the distal with the metatarsus.^ 



^ In the embryo the tarsal elements of the proximal row are two 

 in number, a tibial and a fibular. The distal row contains one 

 element only. 



3 



Fig. 8.— Right Tibia 

 and Fibula. 



Tu. , tuberosity of tibia ; 

 F., fibula; T., tibia; Ta., 

 tarsal part of tibia. 



