Interosseous membrane of leg

Looks like

A tough sheet of fibres stretched between the shin bone and the fibula along most of their length.

What it does

Binds the two bones together, gives muscles attachment and separates the front and back leg compartments.

Keeping it well

Tears with some high ankle fractures (Maisonneuve injury); pain high on the leg after an ankle twist needs an X-ray of the whole leg.

Related conditions

• Achilles tendon rupture
• Chronic venous insufficiency
• Compartment syndrome
• Growing pains
• Lymphangitis
• Lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis)
• Lymphoedema
• Restless legs syndrome
• Superficial thrombophlebitis
• Varicose veins
• Venomous snakebite