Tibia

[Continued from above] . . . tuberosity is a region on the bone where muscles and tendons attach (or an apophysis). The upper end joins the femur to form the knee joint, and the lower end forms part of the ankle joint. On the inside of the ankle, the tibia widens and sticks out to form a large bony prominence called the medial malleolus. On the outside of the ankle is a protrusion called the lateral malleolus, which is sometimes called the ankle bone, and is the most common area for ankle sprains. The lateral meniscus of the knee is a thick, crescent-shaped piece of cartilage that acts as padding. It lies between the joint where the femur and tibia articulate (come in contact with each other) on the outside of the knee. Likewise, the medial meniscus lies in the joint on the inside of the knee. The menisci are vital to absorbing shock from the knees, as well as providing lubrication and stabilization. Therefore, every attempt is made to repair (and more recently even to replace) worn or injured menisci.