Description
The bones of the lower limb provide the skeletal framework for both the locomotor and weight-bearing functions of the lower limb. For classification purposes, the bones of the lower limb can be arbitrarily divided into two distinct groups based on their anatomical relationship with the axial skeleton:
- the hip bone, which articulates directly with the axial skeleton, has a relatively fixed position to the trunk, and is therefore less mobile;
- the bones of the free part of lower limb, which do not articulate directly with the axial skeleton and are therefore more mobile.
The majority of the bones in the lower limb are long bones (e.g., femur, tibia, and fibula) that, from proximal to distal, increase in number but decrease in size. The lower limb also consists of irregular, short and sesamoid bones (e.g., ischium, calcaneus, and patella, respectively).
The joints of the lower limb demonstrate less mobility than their upper limb counterparts; however, they are more stable as a result. The most proximal joints of the lower limb exhibit the greatest range of motion but become gradually more restricted distally.
Related parts of the anatomy
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Bones of the lower limb: Video, Anatomy & Definition
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