shins

The shin refers to the front portion of the lower leg. In anatomical terms, it primarily designates the tibia, the larger of the two long bones in the leg. The fibula runs parallel on the lateral side and is not typically described as part of the shin. The tibia bears most of the body's weight and forms the knee joint with the femur and the ankle joint with the talus.

The tibia consists of a proximal end with the tibial plateau, a shaft with a sharp anterior border, and a distal end that forms the medial malleolus. The distal tibia articulates with the talus to create the ankle mortise; the fibula provides lateral stability and serves as an attachment for muscles. The shin houses muscles, nerves, and vessels in compartments; principal blood supply comes from the anterior tibial and posterior tibial arteries, with the peroneal artery contributing to the lateral compartment. Nerves include the deep peroneal and tibial nerves in the compartments, along with the saphenous nerve medially.

Clinical relevance: The shin is a common site of injuries in athletes. Shin splints, or medial tibial stress syndrome, cause pain along the inner shin due to repetitive strain of the muscles and fascia. Tibial stress fractures are small cracks in the tibial cortex from repetitive loading. Acute tibial fractures result from high-energy trauma and may require immobilization or surgery. Management includes rest, gradual loading, physical therapy, and, when indicated, surgical fixation.