Tibiofibular Joint
The joint between the circular facet of the head of the fibula and a similarly shaped surface on the postero-lateral aspect of the under surface of the lateral condyle of the tibia is a plane joint. The articular surface of the head of the fibula is directed superiorly and slightly antero-medially to articulate with the postero-lateral part of the tibial metaphysis. The head of the fibula in addition to the insertional site for the LCL and the biceps femoris tendon also acts as insertion for the fabello-fibular ligament and the arcuate ligament.
The superior tibio-fibula joint is a synovial joint lined by synovial membrane possessing a capsular ligament that is strengthened by anterior and posterior ligaments.
In contrast, the inferior tibio-fibula joint is a syndesmosis and the bones are joined by strong interosseus ligament. Movement at the superior tibio-fibula joint is slight at best but is nevertheless important.
There are a number of nerves and arteries that run in close proximity to the proximal end of the fibula. The anterior tibial artery, the terminal branch of the popliteal artery, enters the anterior compartment of the leg through the opening in the interosseus membrane two finger breadths below the superior tibio-fibula joint. The anterior tibial nerve and a terminal branch from the common peroneal nerve also pierces the anterior interosseus ligament and comes to lie lateral to the artery. The superficial peroneal nerve arises from the common peroneal nerve on the lateral side of the neck of the fibula and runs distally forward in the substance of the peroneus longus muscle.
Last Updated (Thursday, 10 February 2011 13:06)
