Where the tibia sits in the skeleton
The tibia is the larger, inner bone of the lower leg, felt at the front of the shin. It carries body weight down to the foot, and its lower end forms the inner ankle bone. The broad medial and lateral condyles at its upper end carry the femur, and the patellar ligament attaches to the tibial tuberosity below them in front. Its front edge lies just under the skin and is the shin you can feel. It is the second longest bone after the femur.
Frequently asked questions
Which part of the skeleton is the tibia in?
The tibia is one of the bones of the pelvis and leg. The hip bones and sacrum form the pelvis, and the femur, patella, tibia and fibula form the leg.
Which bones make up the pelvis and leg?
The pelvis is formed by the two hip bones, the sacrum and the coccyx. Each leg has the femur, patella, tibia and fibula.
Is there one tibia or a pair?
The tibia is paired: there is one on the left and one on the right, and this page covers both.
Which is the second longest bone in the body?
The tibia. Only the femur is longer, and it is the weight-bearing bone of the lower leg.
Other bones of the pelvis and leg
Joints of the tibia
Compare with similar bones
Bone counts
By region
Read more
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Once the 3D model loads you can turn it and select each part.