The interosseous membranes
Interosseous membranes of forearm and leg
Sheets of tough tissue joining the two bones of your forearm and lower leg.
What it does
A thin, strong membrane spans the gap between the radius and ulna in the forearm, and another between the tibia and fibula in the leg. They bind the paired bones together, give muscles extra area to attach to and pass forces from one bone to the other.
Surprising fact
The fibres of the forearm membrane slant so that a push on your hand travels from the radius to the ulna, sharing the load between both bones.
Why it matters
In some severe forearm fractures this membrane tears too, which surgeons have to account for when repairing the bones.
Nearby
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Sources
Drafted with AI help; awaiting a human fact-check against these sources.
Open in the 3D atlas · Suggest a correction · Not medical advice.
3D models: Z-Anatomy & BodyParts3D (CC BY-SA 4.0 / 2.1 JP). Card text CC BY 4.0.