skinnebenene

Skinnbenene, in English the shin bones, are the paired long bones of the lower leg called the tibiae. Each leg contains a tibia on the medial side, which supports most of the body's weight and forms part of the knee and ankle joints.

Anatomy and joints: The proximal tibia has the tibial plateau that articulates with the femur at the knee. The distal tibia forms the ankle joint with the talus, and its lateral border is adjacent to the fibula. The tibia carries muscle attachments along its shaft, including the patellar tendon at the tibial tuberosity.

Function and development: The tibia is a primary weight-bearing bone, transmitting forces from the ankle to the knee. In children, bones grow at growth plates (physes) near the ends of the tibia; these longitudinal growth zones ossify as maturation proceeds.

Clinical significance: Shin-related injuries include tibial shaft fractures, proximal tibia fractures, distal tibia (pilon) fractures, and shin splints (medial tibial stress syndrome) from repetitive stress. Conditions like Osgood-Schlatter disease affect the tibial tubercle in adolescents. Diagnosis relies on imaging such as X-rays; treatment ranges from rest and immobilization to surgical fixation depending on fracture type and displacement.

See also: tibia, fibula, lower leg anatomy. The term shin bone is common in everyday language, while anatomists refer specifically to the tibia.