skinnebein

Skinnebein is the Danish term for the tibia, the larger bone of the lower leg in humans. It is commonly known in English as the shinbone and serves as the principal weight-bearing bone of the leg, transmitting load from the knee to the ankle and supporting upright posture and locomotion.

Anatomy and structure: The proximal end of the tibia has medial and lateral condyles that articulate with the femur to form the knee joint, with the tibial plateau contributing to knee stability. Just below the knee the tibial tuberosity serves as the attachment site for the patellar ligament. The shaft of the tibia has a prominent anterior crest and a thick cortical wall, making it strong and able to resist bending. Distally, the tibia forms the ankle joint with the talus, while the fibula runs parallel to the tibia and participates in the ankle’s stability at the proximal and distal tibiofibular joints. The tibia is supplied by branches of the arteries in the leg and innervated by nerves that follow the surrounding muscles and vessels.

Function and clinical notes: The tibia bears most of the body's weight during standing and movement and provides leverage for muscles of the lower leg. Common clinical concerns include tibial fractures, which can result from direct trauma or twisting forces; shin splints or medial tibial stress syndrome are overuse injuries affecting the bone and surrounding tissues. Healing timelines vary with age and fracture type, and treatment ranges from immobilization to surgical fixation in complex cases. In children, injuries near the growth plate at the proximal tibia require careful evaluation to protect ongoing bone development.