Which bone is the smaller of the two leg bones and runs parallel to the tibia?

Which bone is the smaller of the two leg bones and runs parallel to the tibia?

• A. Tarsals
• B. Metatarsals
• C. Coccyx
• D. Fibula

Answer: (D)

The lower leg has two long bones: a larger one that bears most of the body's weight and sits on the medial side, and a smaller one that runs parallel to it on the lateral side. That thinner bone is the fibula. It’s the smaller of the two and lies parallel to the tibia, mainly serving as a site for muscle attachment and helping stabilize the ankle rather than supporting most of the body's weight. The other options point to bones in the foot (tarsals and metatarsals) or a bone in the spine (coccyx), which don’t fit the description of a leg bone running parallel to the tibia. So, the fibula is the bone described.

The lower leg has two long bones: a larger one that bears most of the body's weight and sits on the medial side, and a smaller one that runs parallel to it on the lateral side. That thinner bone is the fibula. It’s the smaller of the two and lies parallel to the tibia, mainly serving as a site for muscle attachment and helping stabilize the ankle rather than supporting most of the body's weight. The other options point to bones in the foot (tarsals and metatarsals) or a bone in the spine (coccyx), which don’t fit the description of a leg bone running parallel to the tibia. So, the fibula is the bone described.