buikbeen

Buikbeen is a term found in some Dutch dialects and in older medical texts that refers to a bone in the leg. In modern standard anatomy the term is uncommon; the bone most often associated with it is the tibia, which in Dutch is called the scheenbeen. The exact usage of buikbeen can vary by region and historical source.

The tibia is the larger, medial bone of the lower leg, extending from the knee to the ankle. It bears most of the body’s weight and provides a central axis for the lower limb. It forms the upper part of the ankle joint and articulates with the femur at the knee through the medial and lateral condyles, and with the talus at the ankle. The fibula, or kuitbeen, runs parallel to the tibia on the outside of the leg.

Anatomically, the tibia consists of a proximal end with the tibial plateau, a shaft that is triangular in cross-section, and a distal end featuring the medial malleolus. The tibial tuberosity is an important attachment site for the patellar ligament. The bone is surrounded by a periosteum and supplied by nutrients through several foramina.

Developmentally, ossification of the tibia begins before birth, with growth occurring at the growth plates near the knee and ankle. The bone enlarges and later fuses at the epiphyses during adolescence.

Clinical significance includes a variety of injuries and conditions. Tibial fractures are common, as are shin splints (medial tibial stress syndrome) in runners. Complications can include nonunion or, in severe cases, damage to surrounding structures or compartment syndrome.

In everyday Dutch usage, scheenbeen is the preferred term for this bone; buikbeen appears mainly in regional or historical contexts. See also: scheenbeen, kuitbeen, femur.