What is the name of the long bone which extends down the front of our leg from the knee to the ankle?

The lower part of your leg is supported by two long bones, but the one responsible for bearing the vast majority of your body weight is the tibia. Commonly known as the shin bone, it is the larger and stronger of the pair, extending down the front and inner side of the leg. It connects the femur (thigh bone) at the knee joint and forms the crucial upper part of the ankle joint. Running parallel to it is the fibula, a much more slender bone on the outer side of the leg that mainly serves as an attachment point for muscles.

The name "tibia" has an interesting origin, coming from the Latin word for "flute" or "pipe." It is thought that the bone's shape resembled these ancient musical instruments, and in some cultures, the tibias of animals were historically used to make flutes. Because it sits so close to the surface of the skin with little muscle padding, the tibia is the most frequently broken long bone in the body. This exposed position is also why a bump to the shin is notoriously painful.