MSK - The Tibia

Question 1

What joint does the tibia articulate with proximally?

What joint does the tibia articulate with distally?

Answer 1

Proximally - Knee

Distal - Ankle

Question 2

What is the main function of the tibia?

Answer 2

It is a weight bearing structure

Question 3

What is the tibia widened by at the proximal end? (Bony Landmarks)

What do these bony landmarks aid in?

Answer 3

Medial and Lateral condyles

Aid in Weight Bearing

Question 4

The condyles form a flat surface known as what?

What does this articulate with to form what?

Answer 4

The Tibeal Plateau

Articulates with the femoral condyles to form the knee joint

Question 5

What is the region between the condyles called?

What does it consist of?

What attaches here?

Answer 5

Intercondylar Emimance

Two tubercles and a roughened area

Site of attachment for the ligaments and the menisci of the knee joint

Question 6

The tibial intercondylar tubercles fit into what on the femur?

Answer 6

Intercondylar Fossa

Question 7

What is on the anterior surface of the proximal tibia, inferior to the condyles?

What attaches here?

Answer 7

Tibial Tuberosity

Patella Ligament

Question 8

How many borders and surfaces of the tibia are there?

Which ones are clinically important?

Answer 8

Three borders and Three surfaces; anterior, posterior and lateral

Anterior border, Posterior surface, Lateral border

Question 9

What is the start of the anterior border marked by?

Answer 9

The Tibeal Tuberosity

Question 10

What is susceptible to damage down the anterior surface of the leg (known as the shin)?

How does it present clinically?

Answer 10

Periosteal covering of the tibia

Presents clinically as bruising

Question 11

What is the posterior surface of the tibia marked by?

Answer 11

A ridge of bone called the soleal line

Question 12

Where does the soleal line run and what does it eventually blend in with?

What muscle originates here?

Answer 12

Runs inferiomedially, eventually blending in with medial border with the tibia

Part of the soleus muscle

Question 13

What is the lateral border also known as?

What attaches here?

Answer 13

The interosseous border

Attachment to the interosseous membrane that binds the tibia and the fibula together

Question 14

What happens at the distal end of the tibia that also happens at the proximal end?

What does this help with?

Answer 14

It widens

Helps with weight bearing

Question 15

What is the name given to the bony projection that continues inferiorly on the medial side?

What does it articulate with and to form what?

Answer 15

The Medial Malleolus

Articulates with the tarsel bones to form the ankle joint

Question 16

Where is the groove for the tibialis anterior muscle attachment located?

Answer 16

Posterior surface of the tibia

Question 17

Laterally on the distal end is a notch. What is it known as and what is bound here?

Answer 17

Known as the fibular notch

Tibia and Fibula are bound

Question 18

How common are fractures of the tibia?

What age groups are most likely to suffer from a fracture of the tibia?

Answer 18

Common

Middle Aged and Elderly

Question 19

If the fibula is not fractured, what effect does this have on the displacement of the tibial fragments?

Answer 19

Minimal displacement

Question 20

What end of the tibia is most likely to fracture?

What sort of injury is likely to cause this fracture?

What bony landmarks are prone to fracturing?

Answer 20

Proximal end

Trauma (eg car crash)

The condyles but it would not be unusual for there to be damage to knee ligaments

Question 21

What has happened here?

How is it caused?

Answer 21

Medial Malleolus fracture

Caused by ankle twisting inwards (overinversion), the talus of the foot is forced against the medial malleolus, causing a spiral fracture