Tibia (English)

The tibia articulates proximally at the knee joint with the distal end of the femur which rests upon the tibial plateau, formed by the medial and lateral tibial condyles. The tibial tuberosity is a large roughened prominence on the anterior proximal tibia which serves as the attachment point for the patellar ligament (and indirectly for the tendon of the quadriceps femoris muscle). The body, or shaft, of the tibia has three surfaces (medial, lateral and posterior) which are separated by three borders (anterior, interosseous and medial). The posterior surface of the tibia bears a ridge known as the soleal line which gives attachment to the soleus muscle. The distal end of the tibia bears a projection known as the medial malleolus which articulates with the body of the talus; its medial surface can be palpated as the medial ‘knob’ of the ankle.