Question

Which leg bone bears the weight of the body?

Answer 1

The bones those bear weight help the body to stand upright and help in walking. The bones and joints must be strong enough to support the weight at the same time it should be flexible for carrying out other functions.

Complete Answer:
- The lower leg is made up of two bones -the tibia and the smaller fibula. The thighs contain femur which connects the lower bone by the knee joint. It is found on the medial side of the leg along the fibula and in proximity with the centre-line. The joint between the tibia and fibula is a fibrous joint which offers very little movement. The tibia is the strongest long bones in our body which supports the rest of the body.
- The blood supply to this bone is through the nutrient artery and the periosteal vessels which are obtained from the anterior tibial artery.
- These bones connect several muscles. These bones are most prone to fractures. It moves out of place when broken. It usually requires surgery for recovery.

Additional Information: The other longest and the strongest bone in our body is the femur. It is also a weight bearing bone. They are difficult to be broken or fractured. A very strong force is required to cause damage to such bones.

Note: Consuming calcium and vitamin D helps in keeping the bones strong. Dairy products are the rich source of calcium and vitamin D is abundantly present in sunlight. Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones get brittle and weak. It reduces the bone density. It is generally caused by calcium deficiency.