Which bone is the shinbone and bears most of the body's weight?

• A. Fibula
• B. Patella
• C. Tibia
• D. Metatarsals

Answer: (C)

The shinbone is the tibia, the main weight-bearing bone of the leg. It’s the larger, medial bone of the lower leg and carries most of the body's weight as you stand and move, transmitting forces from the knee down to the ankle. The fibula runs alongside it but is much thinner and mainly serves for muscle attachment and ankle stability, not for bearing the majority of body weight. The kneecap, or patella, protects the knee and increases the leverage of the thigh muscles rather than bearing body weight directly. The metatarsals are bones of the foot that bear weight during standing and walking, but they’re not the shinbone and don’t take on the main load like the tibia does.