Week 2

Stick Bones

Paired Limb Bones
Radius
Ulna
Tibia
Fibula
ðŸ’Ą Hover over cards to flip and reveal details
This Week's Focus
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Understanding paired bones
This Week's Focus

These bones come in pairs (forearm: radius & ulna; leg: tibia & fibula). Learn to distinguish between paired bones and understand their anatomical relationships.

Learning Strategy

Comparison & Contrast

Key Pairings

  • Forearm pair: Radius & Ulna
  • Lower leg pair: Tibia & Fibula
  • Learn medial vs. lateral positions
  • Understand relative sizes and functions
Website Resources
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Your study toolkit
Website Resources

Betty Broadbent Resources

Stick Bones Overview
Stick Bones: Radius
Stick Bones: Ulna
Stick Bones: Fibula
Stick Bones: Tibia

Recommended: Visible Body

URL: www.visiblebody.com/learn/skeleton

What to expect: 3D rotatable bone models. You can spin bones 360 degrees.

Best for: Understanding spatial relationships and seeing bones from all angles.

How to use: Search for each bone individually. Use the rotate function extensively. Hide/show labels.

Study Method #2
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Comparison Charts
Comparison Charts

Create a chart comparing radius vs. ulna and tibia vs. fibula.

What to Include

  • Which is medial/lateral
  • Which is larger
  • Distinctive features
  • What they articulate with

Why This Works

  • Side-by-side comparison reveals differences
  • Charts create visual memory anchors
  • Organized information is easier to recall
  • Systematically covers all key features
Practice Tips
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Daily checklist
Practice Tips
  • Hold your own forearm and feel where radius and ulna are positioned
  • Create a mnemonic: 'Radius is on the thuMB side' (both have 'b')
  • Practice identifying bones when they're randomly oriented
  • Quiz yourself: Which bone bears most of the weight in the leg? (tibia)

Pro Tip

Use your own body as a reference! Feel the bones through your skin and understand their positions and relationships in real-time.

Radius & Ulna
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Forearm bones
Radius & Ulna Deep Dive

Radius

  • Located on the thumb side (lateral)
  • Rotates around the ulna
  • Articulates with wrist bones
  • Slightly shorter than ulna

Ulna

  • Located on the pinky side (medial)
  • Forms the elbow joint
  • More stable, less mobile
  • Has prominent olecranon (elbow point)

Remember: Radius is on the thuMB side - both have 'b'!

Tibia & Fibula
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Lower leg bones
Tibia & Fibula Deep Dive

Tibia

  • The larger bone (medial position)
  • Bears most of the body weight
  • Forms the knee and ankle joints
  • Also called the "shin bone"

Fibula

  • The thinner bone (lateral position)
  • Primarily for muscle attachment
  • Does not bear significant weight
  • Forms the lateral ankle

Remember: The tibia is the weight-bearing bone - much larger and stronger than the fibula.