Fibula
Updates to Article Attributes
The fibula (plural: fibulae) is the smaller bone of the leg and contributes to the knee and ankle joints but is not weightbearing. The distal fibula (ie(i.e. lateral malleolus) is the only part that is required for normal lower limb function, which allows plastic surgeons the remove large segments of it.
Gross anatomy
Osteology
The thin long 'lesser' bone of the leg runs posterolateral to the tibia and has a head (proximal), neck, shaft and distal end known as the lateral malleolus:
-
Thethe head has a smallsuperiorsuperiorly pointed tubercle, the apex or styloid process, andaan articular surface for the tibia. -
Thethe neck is immediately inferior to the head. -
Thethe shaft istraingular istriangular in cross section and has a sharp medial crest that runs longitudinally down the shaft and serves as an attachment for the broad strong interosseous membrane. -
Thethe lateral malleolus contains a facet medially, to articulate with the talus,
It is the most slender of all the long bones.
Articulations
Proximal
Distal
Attachments
Musculotendinous
Proximal
- biceps femoris: head and styloid process
- peroneus longus: head
- soleus: posterior head
Shaft
-
interosseuousinterosseous membrane - peroneus longus: lateral upper shaft
- peroneus brevis: lateral upper shaft
- peroneus tertius: anterior shaft
- extensor hallucis longus: anterior shaft
- extensor digitorum longus: anterior shaft
- soleus: posterior upper shaft
- tibialis posterior: posterior upper shaft
- flexor hallucis longus: lower and mid posterior shaft
Ligamentous
Proximal
Distal
-
distal tibiofibular syndesmosis
- anterior tibiofibular ligament
- posterior tibiofibular ligament
- talocrural joint
Relations
The tendons of peroneus longus and brevis pass behind the lateral malleolus whereas the tendon of peroneus tertius passedpasses in front of it.
Blood supply
Branches of the fibular artery give off one or more large nutrient arteries that enter the shaft of the fibula. These branches are important for the harvest of the fibular shaft for plastic surgical reconstruction (free fibular graft, usually for mandibular reconstruction).
Branches of the anterior tibial artery supply the head.
Variant anatomy
- fibular hemimelia
Radiographic features
Plain film
It is important to understand the 3-dimensional orientation of the lateral malleolus within the ankle. The lateral malleolus is longer, larger and more posterior than the medial malleolus. Hence on a true lateral radiograph of the ankle, it is posterior to the medial malleolus.
Development
Ossification
content pending
Related investigations
Plain film
Cross-sectional imaging
- leg CT
- leg CTA (for fibular free graft workup)
- leg MRI
Related pathology
- ankle fractures
- Maisonneuve fracture
-<p>The <strong>fibula </strong>(plural: <strong>fibulae</strong>) is the smaller bone of the leg and contributes to the <a href="/articles/knee-joint-1">knee </a>and <a href="/articles/missing">ankle</a> joints but is not weightbearing. The distal fibula (ie lateral malleolus) is the only part that is required for normal lower limb function, which allows plastic surgeons the remove large segments of it.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><h5>Osteology</h5><p>The thin long 'lesser' bone of the leg runs posterolateral to the <a href="/articles/tibia">tibia</a> and has a head (proximal), neck, shaft and distal end known as the lateral malleolus:</p><ul>-<li>The head has a small superior pointed tubercle, the apex or styloid process, and a articular surface for the tibia.</li>-<li>The neck is immediately inferior to the head.</li>-<li>The shaft is traingular is cross section and has a sharp medial crest that runs longitudinally down the shaft and serves as an attachment for the broad strong interosseous membrane.</li>-<li>The lateral malleolus contains a facet medially, to articulate with the talus,</li>-</ul><p>It is the most slender of all the long bones.</p><h5>Articulations</h5><p>Proximal</p><ul><li><a href="/articles/proximal-tibiofibular-joint">proximal tibiofibular joint</a></li></ul><p>Distal</p><ul>- +<p>The <strong>fibula </strong>(plural: <strong>fibulae</strong>) is the smaller bone of the leg and contributes to the <a href="/articles/knee-joint-1">knee </a>and <a href="/articles/missing">ankle</a> joints but is not weightbearing. The distal fibula (i.e. lateral malleolus) is the only part that is required for normal lower limb function, which allows plastic surgeons the remove large segments of it.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><h5>Osteology</h5><p>The thin long 'lesser' bone of the leg runs posterolateral to the <a href="/articles/tibia">tibia</a> and has a head (proximal), neck, shaft and distal end known as the lateral malleolus:</p><ul>
- +<li>the head has a small superiorly pointed tubercle, the apex or styloid process, and an articular surface for the tibia</li>
- +<li>the neck is immediately inferior to the head</li>
- +<li>the shaft is triangular in cross section and has a sharp medial crest that runs longitudinally down the shaft and serves as an attachment for the broad strong interosseous membrane</li>
- +<li>the lateral malleolus contains a facet medially, to articulate with the talus</li>
- +</ul><p>It is the most slender of all long bones.</p><h5>Articulations</h5><p>Proximal</p><ul><li><a href="/articles/proximal-tibiofibular-joint">proximal tibiofibular joint</a></li></ul><p>Distal</p><ul>
-<li>interosseuous membrane</li>- +<li>interosseous membrane</li>
-<li>posterior tibiofibular ligament</li>- +<li>posterior tibiofibular ligament </li>
-<li><a href="/articles/anterior-talofibular-ligament-1">anterior talofibular ligament</a></li>-<li><a href="/articles/posterior-talofibular-ligament">posterior talofibular ligament</a></li>- +<li>
- +<a href="/articles/anterior-talofibular-ligament-1">anterior talofibular ligament</a> (ATFL)</li>
- +<li>
- +<a href="/articles/posterior-talofibular-ligament">posterior talofibular ligament</a> (PTFL)</li>
-</ul><h4>Relations</h4><p>The tendons of peroneus longus and brevis pass behind the lateral malleolus whereas the tendon of peroneus tertius passed in front of it.</p><h4>Blood supply</h4><p>Branches of the <a href="/articles/fibular-artery">fibular artery</a> give off one or more large nutrient arteries that enter the shaft of the fibula. These branches are important for the harvest of the fibular shaft for plastic surgical reconstruction (free fibular graft, usually for mandibular reconstruction).</p><p>Branches of the <a href="/articles/anterior-tibial-artery">anterior tibial artery</a> supply the head.</p><h4>Variant anatomy</h4><ul><li>fibular <a href="/articles/fibular-hemimelia">hemimelia</a>- +</ul><h4>Relations</h4><p>The tendons of peroneus longus and brevis pass behind the lateral malleolus whereas the tendon of peroneus tertius passes in front of it.</p><h4>Blood supply</h4><p>Branches of the <a href="/articles/fibular-artery">fibular artery</a> give off one or more large nutrient arteries that enter the shaft of the fibula. These branches are important for the harvest of the fibular shaft for plastic surgical reconstruction (free fibular graft, usually for mandibular reconstruction).</p><p>Branches of the <a href="/articles/anterior-tibial-artery">anterior tibial artery</a> supply the head.</p><h4>Variant anatomy</h4><ul><li>fibular <a href="/articles/fibular-hemimelia">hemimelia</a>
-<li><a href="/articles/tibia-fibula-series">tibia/fibular series</a></li>- +<li><a href="/articles/tibia-fibula-series">tibia/fibula series</a></li>