Why leg health is important

Learn more about
your blood circulation and leg veins.

Each leg is made up of an upper leg, lower leg and foot, extending from the hip to the ankle. Legs make up a significant portion of your entire body - the largest, longest and strongest bone in the human body is the femur, which is in the leg. Both the front and the back of the upper leg are well muscled, and supply much of the strength and power for the leg.

The knee forms the joint between the femur and the next lower bone of the leg, the tibia. The knee is protected and stabilized by the patella (also known as the kneecap), a flat, triangular bone. Ligaments and other tissue also help stabilize the knee against excessive side-to-side movement, and cartilage material acts to cushion the junction of the femur and the tibia.

The tibia is the second longest bone in the body, after the femur. It extends the length of the lower leg, from the knee to the ankle. It is closely associated with a long and slender bone called the fibula (or calf bone). The back of the lower leg is also well muscled and these muscles assist with leg and foot motion. The lower leg connects to the foot, a complex structure with over 20 bones. The foot is also well muscled and is supported by tissue known as fascia.