The lower extremities are responsible for movement. They provide humans
with an additional support. The lower extremities are joined to the
spinal column (columna vertebralis) by the pelvic girdle, which in
contrast to the pectoral girdle is fixed in the skeleton.
The lower extremities are divided into four sections:
Pelvic girdle with sacrum (os sacrum) and hipbone (os coxae)Thigh (femur) with thighbone (os femoris),Calf (crus) with shinbone (tibia) and calf bone (fibula)Foot (pes) with tarsal bones (ossa tarsi), metatarsal bones (ossa metatarsi) and toe bones (phalangae).
The articular joint of the so-called free lower limbs to the pelvic girdle consists of the hip joint (articulatio coxae). The knee joint (articulatio genus) provides the connection between thigh and calf, which is important for the movement sequences involved in walking.
The upper ankle joint (aticulatio talocruralis) between calf and foot works together with the talotarsalis joint (articulatio talotarsalis) to produce the rolling movement of the foot in walking.
Numerous ligaments, tendons and muscles are responsible for holding
the bones and joints together, and facilitate movement of the body.
