INTRODUCTION

This is the last of six labs in which you will learn the bones of the human body.  This lab focuses on the bones of the lower limbs.  The bones you will learn are femur, fibula, tibia, patella, tarsus, metatarsus, and phalanges.

One of the best ways to learn the bones is to draw them and label the landmarks.  Using the textbook and lab manual as well as reference books available in the lab (e.g., White's Human Osteology and Bass' Human Osteology), you will draw and label the lower limb bones.
 

OBJECTIVES

• To identify the bones of the lower limbs.

• To label the important features of the lower limb bones.

• To learn siding of paired lower limb bones.

• To practice carefully handling skeletal material.

READINGS

• Review the general information on human osteology in Chapter 2 of the text book and lab manual.

• Read the information on leg bones in Chapter 2 of the text book and lab manual.

TERMS

In addition to the bones and features you will label on your drawings, you should understand the meanings of the following terms.

• paired bone
• side
• proximal
• distal
• medial
  
• lateral
  
• articular surface
• tuberosity
• condyle
• fossa
• malleolus
• dorsal
• ventral
• tarsal / tarsus (plural)
• metatarsal / metatarsus (plural)
• phalanx / phalanges (plural)

INSTRUCTIONS

Closely examine the limb bones laid out in the lab, being sure to handle the bones gently and to keep the bones with their labels. 

You will draw and label the bones and features to the best of your ability. 

Use the textbook, lab manual, and other reference books to assist in identifying and labeling your drawings.

Clearly indicate the bone name, the view, and the side for each drawing.  For example, RIGHT FEMUR, POSTERIOR VIEW. 

Remember to put the proximal end of the bone at the top or left side of your page, make large drawings of the bones, show adequate detail, and put the drawings in order.

Orient your paper in portrait for these bones.

Put the long bone drawings on separate pieces of paper.

Label each phalanx separately and appropriately.

Note that the toe bones (phalanges) may be fused on your specimen. Be careful in labeling the phalanges if they are fused! You can draw the bones as they appear, but your labels must clearly show the different phalanges. 

On the drawings, use one color to label the bone features (terms and arrows) and another color to label the directional terms (terms only, no arrows needed).

You may need to omit the medial portion of the femur to fit it on one page; use a dashed line to indicate that some of the diaphysis has been omitted. 

Ask for help orienting the fibula, if needed.

LOWER LIMB BONES AND FEATURES
 

TIPS FOR SIDING LEG BONES