leg (redirected from restless legs)

leg, one of the paired limbs of an animal used for support of the body and for locomotion. Properly, the human leg is that portion of the extremity between the foot and the thigh. This section of the human leg contains two long bones, the tibia and the fibula. The upper end of the tibia joins with the lower end of the thighbone (femur) and forms a hinged joint. The kneecap (patella), a flat triangular-shaped bone, surrounds and protects this joint. The lower end of both tibia and fibula join with the talus, a bone in the foot, to form the ankle joint. The upper end of the femur, which is the longest bone in the body, forms a ball and socket joint where it meets the hipbone. In quadrupeds, both the hind and fore limbs are referred to as legs.

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leg

In a biped, the lower limb, jointed at the knee, supporting the body and used for walking and running. Its bones are the femur (thighbone), the longest bone in the human body; patella (kneecap); tibia (shin); and fibula. The biceps muscle of the thigh bends the leg; the quadriceps straightens it.

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leg

1. 

a. either of the two lower limbs, including the bones and fleshy covering of the femur, tibia, fibula, and patella

b. (as modifier): leg guard

2. any similar or analogous structure in animals that is used for locomotion or support

3. something similar to a leg in appearance or function, such as one of the four supporting members of a chair

4. either the opposite or adjacent side of a right-angled triangle

5. Nautical

a. the distance travelled without tacking

b. (in yacht racing) the course between any two marks

6. Cricket

a. the side of the field to the left of a right-handed batsman as he faces the bowler

b. (as modifier): a leg slip