Tibia

Authors

Affiliations

Nate Yomogida, PT, DPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.S. in Kinesiology

Chloë Kerstein, PT, DPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.A. in Neuroscience

Upper surface of tibia (right)

Bones of the leg (right)

Bones of the leg (right posterior)

Plan of ossification of the tibia

Epiphyseal lines of the tibia and fibula in a young adult

Muscles of the anterior leg¹

Features

in the sagittal plane the tibia displays these features:

1. Retrotorsion: A posterior bend².
2. Retroversion: the tibial plateau shows a 5-6° slope posteriorly².
3. Retroflexion: a bend concave posteriorly².

Landmarks

Anteromedial tibia

• Pes Anserine

Tibial Torsion

“In the adult the distal end of the tibia is twisted externally around its long axis approximately 20 or 30 degrees relative to its proximal end. This natural torsion is evident by the slight exter nally rotated position of the foot during standing. This twist of the lower leg is referred to as external (lateral) tibial torsion, based on the orientation of the bone’s distal end relative to its proximal end.”³

The tibial bone can display “torsion” which is rotation of the bone along its long-axis in the transverse plane³.

In typical adults, the distal tibia is rotated externally/laterally by 20-30°³. This is termed 20-30° of external/lateral tibial torsion since it is named after where the distal tibia is relative to the proximal tibia³. This natural external tibial torsion is evident by the slight toe-out stance³.

References

1.

Gray H. Anatomy of the Human Body. 20th ed. (Lewis WH, ed.). Lea & Febiger; 1918. https://www.bartleby.com/107/

2.

Jones B. B Project Foundations. b Project; 2025.

3.

Neumann DA, Kelly ER, Kiefer CL, Martens K, Grosz CM. Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System: Foundations for Rehabilitation. 3rd ed. Elsevier; 2017.