The bones of the leg are connected to each other with several structures.

Firstly, the interosseous membrane of the leg (membrana interossea cruris) is stretched between the interosseous borders of the tibia and fibula. In the superior and inferior parts of the membrane there are holes through which vessels and nerves pass.

Secondly, the tibiofibular joint is formed between the bones of the leg (articulatio tibiofibularis).

This joint is formed between the fibular articular surface of the tibia (facies articularis fibularis) and the articular surface of the head of the fibula (facies articularis capitis fibulae).

The joint capsule is attached along the edges of the articular surfaces.

According to the classification, the joint is plane, not combined and not complex.

Almost no motions take place in this joint.

The ligamentous apparatus of the joint consists of two ligaments.

• The anterior ligament of the fibular head (ligamentum capitis fibulae anterius)

  

  

• The posterior ligament of the fibular head (ligamentum capitis fibulae posterius).

  

  The third connection of the bones of the leg is the tibiofibular syndesmosis (syndesmosis tibiofibularis), that is, a continuous connection using connective tissue, which located at the distal end of the leg. Sometimes it is called the inferior tibiofibular joint.

  

  This syndesmosis is formed between the fibular notch of the tibia (incisura fibularis) and the articular surface of the lateral malleous of the fibula (facies articularis malleoli lateralis).

  

  

  The joint capsule is attached along the edges of the articular surfaces.

  According to the classification, the joint or syndesmosis is plane, not combined and not complex.

  Almost no motions take place in this joint.

  The ligamentous apparatus consists of two ligaments.

• The anterior tibiofibular ligament (ligamentum tibiofibulare anterius)

  

  

  

• The posterior tibiofibular ligament (ligamentum tibiofibulare posterius)

  

  

  There are no additional structures for this syndesmosis.

  The following vessels and nerves take part in the blood supply and innervation of the leg joints.

• Arteries: anterior tibial artery (a. tibialis anterior), posterior tibial artery (a. tibialis posterior)

• Veins: the blood outflows to the veins with the same name

• Nerves: sciatic nerve (n. ischiadicus)

Dictionary

Tibiofibular joints

Tibiofibular joint

articulatio tibiofibularis

Fibula

fibula

Tibia

tibia

Fibular articular facet of the tibia

facies articularis fibularis tibiae

Articular surface of the head of the fibula

facies articularis capitis fibulae

Anterior ligament of the fibular head

ligamentum capitis fibulae anterius

Posterior ligament of the fibular head

ligamentum capitis fibulae posterius

Tibiofibular syndesmosis

syndesmosis tibiofibularis

Fibular notch

incisura fibularis

Articular surface of the malleolus

facies articularis malleoli

Anterior tibiofibular ligament

ligamentum tibiofibulare anterius

Posterior tibiofibular ligament

ligamentum tibiofibulare posterius