Stick Bones: Fibula

The fibula, like the radiusLateral forearm bone (thumb side); rotates around ulna during pronation/supination., is the smaller of the bones associated with the lower limb bones.  I don’t know of a nickname for the fibula. However, much like the tibiaShinbone; large, weight-bearing medial bone of the lower leg., you will never refer to this bone as the tibula or fibia.  Please.

The fibula is the lateral bone of the lower limb. It is frequently broken in contact sports where you get hit to the side of your lower body.  This can help you remember that the tibia is medialToward the midline of the body. The tibia is also known as the shin bone. The fibula is lateral on the lower leg.  

The proximalCloser to the point of attachment or origin. end of the fibula is called the headRounded proximal end that fits into the acetabulum of the hip bone..  I encourage you to make a small list of all the bones that have a head on their proximal ends.  Associations like this can be helpful when memorizing.  Unfortunately, the proximal head can look a lot like the distal end, which contains the lateral malleolusLarge outer ankle bump at distal fibula. (meaning “little hammer”).  The only trick I know for identifying the correct end of this bone is the sharp little points. These points are called the apex.   It is on the head, not on the lateral malleolus.  The lateral malleolus on the fibula looks like a paddle or a very shallow spoon to me.  

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