The smaller bone in the lower leg, located alongside the tibia.

The smaller bone in the lower leg, located alongside the tibia.

• A. Fibula
• B. Tibia
• C. Metatarsals
• D. Patella

Answer: (A)

Understanding the bones of the lower leg helps explain why the small bone beside the tibia is named the fibula. The fibula is the thinner, outer bone that runs parallel to the tibia on the lateral side of the leg. It doesn’t bear most of the body’s weight—that job is done by the tibia—but it plays important roles in muscle attachment and ankle stability, including forming the lateral malleolus that helps stabilize the ankle joint. In contrast, the tibia is the larger, weight-bearing shinbone, the metatarsals are bones of the foot, and the patella is the kneecap. So the smaller bone located alongside the tibia is the fibula.

Understanding the bones of the lower leg helps explain why the small bone beside the tibia is named the fibula. The fibula is the thinner, outer bone that runs parallel to the tibia on the lateral side of the leg. It doesn’t bear most of the body’s weight—that job is done by the tibia—but it plays important roles in muscle attachment and ankle stability, including forming the lateral malleolus that helps stabilize the ankle joint. In contrast, the tibia is the larger, weight-bearing shinbone, the metatarsals are bones of the foot, and the patella is the kneecap. So the smaller bone located alongside the tibia is the fibula.