Skeleton of lower limb (overview)

The skeleton of the lower limb is composed of 30 bones (excluding the bones of the pelvis). Overall, the lower extremity can be further subdivided into two main parts - the pelvis and the free lower limb.

• The pelvis, also called the bony pelvis or pelvic skeleton, is composed of the following four bones - two hip bones, sacrum, and coccyx.
• The free lower limb can be further subdivided into three smaller portions:
  • Thigh - it is formed by a single bone called the femur;
  • Lower leg - consists of two bones that are known as the tibia and fibula;
  • Foot - the terminal part of the lower limb; it contains most of the bones and is composed of 26 bones, including 7 tarsal bones, 5 metatarsal bones, and 14 phalanges.

The skeleton of the lower limb includes the largest sesamoid bone in the human body - the patella. It articulates with the femur and participates in the formation of the knee joint. Therefore, it is positioned in the anterior knee region and depending on the position of the free lower limb, it covers the bones of the thigh and the leg.