Human leg
Human leg
The Human leg (pronunciation: /ˈhjuːmən lɛɡ/), in the general word sense, is the entire lower limb of the human body, including the foot, thigh and even the hip or gluteal region. However, the definition in human anatomy refers only to the section of the lower limb extending from the knee to the ankle, also known as the crus.[1] Legs are used for standing, walking, jumping, running, kicking, and similar activities, and constitute a significant portion of a person's mass.
Etymology
The word "leg" comes from the Old Norse word "leggr", which means "leg, bone of the arm or leg".[2]
Anatomy
The human leg, in the general meaning, is the entire lower limb of the human body, including the foot, thigh and even the hip or gluteal region. However, the definition in human anatomy refers only to the section of the lower limb extending from the knee to the ankle, also known as the crus. The major bones of the human leg are the femur, tibia, fibula, and the bones of the foot.[3]
Femur
The femur or thigh bone is the most proximal (closest to the hip joint) bone of the leg in humans and many other animals. It is the longest bone in the human body.[4]
Tibia and Fibula
The tibia and fibula are the two long bones located in the lower leg. The tibia is larger and stronger than the fibula.[5][6]
Foot
The foot is the terminal portion of the leg, upon which an individual stands and moves.[7]
Related Terms
- Knee: The knee is a hinge type synovial joint, which is composed of three functional compartments: the femoropatellar articulation, consisting of the patella, or "kneecap", and the patellar groove on the front of the femur through which it slides.
- Ankle: The ankle, or the talocrural region, is the region where the foot and the leg meet.
- Hip: The hip joint is the joint between the femur and acetabulum of the pelvis and its primary function is to support the weight of the body in both static (e.g. standing) and dynamic (e.g. walking or running) postures.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Human leg
- Wikipedia's article - Human leg
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