The leg is made up of the femur, patella, tibia, fibula, seven tarsals, five metatarsals and 14 phalanges.
The longest bone in the body is the femur, which is the thigh bone, and the distal ends of the femur articulate with the patella. The patella makes up the kneecap, and is located anterior to the knee joint. The fibula and tibia make up the lower section of the leg. The fibula can be found on the lateral side of the tibia and the end forms the part of the ankle on the lateral side.
The tarsals consist of the talus, calcaneum, cuboid, cuneiform, navicular, metatarsals and phalanges. It is the metatarsals and phalanges which go on to form the toes.
The bones of the feet form arches which are designed to support the body’s weight and provide leverage. The arches are maintained by the ligaments and muscles.
Anatomy & Physiology – Position And Actions Of The Lower Leg And Foot Muscles
| Muscle Name | Location | Action |
| Tibialis anterior | Anterior aspect of the lower leg. | Dorsi flexes and inverts the foot. |
| Peroneus longus | Lateral aspect of the lower leg. | Plantar flexes the feet. |
| Extensor digitorum longus | Lateral side of the front of the lower leg. | Extends the second to fifth toes and dorsi flexes and eversion of the foot. |
| Extensor digitorum tendons | Tops of the toes. | Straightens the toes. |
| Gastrocenemius | A calf muscle which inserts through the Achilles tendon into the heel. | Plantar flexes the foot. |
| Soleus | Below the gastrocenemius and inserts through the Achilles tendon into the heel. | Plantar flexes the foot. |
| Achilles tendon | Attached to the soleus and gastrocenemius down to the heel. | Raises the foot. |
| Flexor digitorum tendons | Underneath the toes. | Bends the toes. |
| Flexor hallucis longus | From the distal two thirds of the posterior fibula to the plantar surface of the big toe. | Flexion of the big toe, plantar flexion and inversion of the foot. |