The skeleton of the leg is composed of the |femur| (thigh bone), |tibia| and fibula (calf bones), and the |patella| (kneecap). These bones have three primary sites of articulation: the hip joint, formed by the head of the |femur| and the |acetabulum| of the |pelvis|, the |knee joint|, formed by the joining of the lower end of the |femur|, the |patella|, and the superior end of the |tibia| and fibula, and the ankle, formed by the articulation between the |tibia| and the tarsus. The legs are responsible for bearing a great deal of weight and are subjected to intense vertical and lateral stresses - especially at the knee joint. Consequently, the bones of the leg are often cracked or broken, and the knee, hip, and ankle joint are particularly susceptible to fracture, strain, sprain, and dislocation.
