10 Dance Anatomy and Kinesiology
the larger of the bones, and is the primary weight-
bearing bone of the lower leg. The fibula acts like a
strut, placed to the outside of the tibia. The patella,
or kneecap, is located in front of the lower part of
the femur. The ankle-foot region has seven bones
located in the ankle and upper foot area called the
tarsals; five rays of bone located in the main body of
the foot, called the metatarsals; and 14 digits located
in the toes, called the phalanges. Note the similarity
of the arrangement of the foot and hand; the differ-
ence is that the hand has one more carpal than the
foot has tarsals.Bony Markings
In addition to the names just mentioned for the
bones of the skeleton, names are often used for
specific sites on a given bone. This labeling is helpful
for describing the specific location of blood vessels
and nerves, or attachments of tendons, ligaments, or
fascia. Such sites are commonly depressions, open-
ings, projections, or processes as described in table
1.2. This terminology will be applied as individual
joints are described more fully in following chapters
of this book.FIGURE 1.4 Major bones of the human skeleton. (A) Lateral view of axial skeleton and (B) anterior view of complete
skeleton.