Final answer:
The femur is the bone of the thigh and is the longest, heaviest, and strongest bone in the body. It forms the hip joint with the pelvis and the knee joint with the tibia and the patella. The lower limb also includes the tibia, fibula, tarsals, metatarsals, and phalanges.
Step-by-step explanation:
The lower limb of the human body is composed of several regions and bones that work together to provide support, stability, and movement. The thigh, which is the portion of the lower limb located between the hip joint and the knee joint, contains the femur. The femur is the longest, heaviest, and strongest bone and is the single bone of the thigh. It is essential for forming the hip joint with the pelvis at the proximal end and the knee joint with the tibia and patella at the distal end.
The patella, or kneecap, is a triangular bone situated anterior to the knee joint, embedded in the quadriceps tendon, and aids in knee extension by reducing friction. Below the knee, the tibia, or shinbone, is the second largest bone in the body, which bears the weight from the femur to the foot. Alongside it, the fibula functions as a site for muscle attachment and forms the lateral part of the ankle joint. The lower limb also includes bones of the foot, such as the tarsals, metatarsals, and phalanges. The tarsals form the ankle, which carries the body's weight from the tibia and fibula to the foot, while the metatarsals and phalanges make up the skeleton of the mid-foot and toes, respectively.