Fibula facts for kids
The fibula is one of two important bones in your lower leg. The other one is called the tibia. These bones are found below your knee and femur (thigh bone), and above your feet. The fibula helps support your knee and tibia, and muscles attach to it to help you move your knee.
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The Fibula: A Bone in Your Leg
The fibula is a long, thin bone located on the outside of your lower leg. Even though it's thinner than the tibia, it plays a key role in helping you move and stay stable.
What Does the Fibula Do?
The fibula has several important jobs:
- Muscle Attachment: Many muscles that help move your foot and ankle attach to the fibula. This allows you to point your toes, flex your foot, and move your ankle from side to side.
- Ankle Stability: The lower end of the fibula forms part of your ankle joint. It helps create a strong, stable connection with your foot bones, preventing your ankle from twisting too much.
- Support for the Tibia: While the tibia carries most of your body's weight, the fibula acts as a brace, giving the tibia extra support and stability.
Where is the Fibula Located?
You can feel your fibula on the outside of your lower leg, running from just below your knee down to your ankle. It sits next to the larger tibia bone. Together, these two bones form the framework of your lower leg.
Images for kids
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Position of fibula (shown in red)
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Shape of fibula (right)
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Diagram showing how the human fibula develops.
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Lower part of the right fibula, seen from the inside.
See also
In Spanish: Peroné para niños
