_Lower extremities_, 60.
1. Femur, thigh bone 2
2. Tibia, shin bone 2
3. Fibula 2
4. Patella, kneepan 2
5. Tarsal, ankle bones 14
6. Metatarsal, instep bones 10
7. Phalanges of toes 28
ARTICULATIONS
Any place in the body where two or more bones meet is called an
articulation, or joint. At the place of meeting the bones are firmly
attached to each other, thereby securing the necessary coherence of the
skeleton. The large number of bones, and consequently of articulations,
are necessary for the different movements of the body and also on account
of the manner in which the skeleton develops, or grows. Articulations are
classed with reference to their freedom of motion, as _movable_, _slightly
movable_, and _immovable_ articulations.
Most of the _immovable_ articulations are found in the skull. Here
irregular, tooth-like projections from the different bones enable them to
interlock with one another, while they are held firmly together by a thin
layer of connective tissue. The wavy lines formed by articulations of this
kind are called _sutures_ (Fig. 100).
The best examples of joints that are _slightly_, but not freely, _movable_
are found in the front of the spinal column.
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