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Ankle joint

The ankle joint (also talocrural joint; Latin: articulatio talocruralis) is a cylindrical-shaped synovial joint. It is a complex hinge-type joint formed between the bones of the leg and foot - tibia, fibula and talus. Therefore, the ankle joint marks the transition between the foot and the leg.

Ankle joint, Bones of leg, Tibia, Fibula, Tarsals, Talus, Colored, Human foot, Foot skeleton, Foot bones, Lateral view
Lateral view of ankle joint by Anatomy.app
Ankle joint, Bones of leg, Tibia, Fibula, Tarsals, Talus, Colored, Human foot, Foot skeleton, Foot bones, Posteromedial view
Posteromedial view of ankle joint by Anatomy.app

 

Articulating structures of ankle joint

The articular surfaces of the ankle joint are as follows:

  • Superior articular surface of the talus
  • Inferior articular surface of the tibia
  • Medial malleolar surface of the talus
  • Medial malleolar articular surface of the tibia
  • Lateral malleolar surface of the talus
  • Lateral malleolar articular surface of the fibula
Ankle joint, Bones of leg, Tibia, Fibula, Tarsals, Talus, Articulating structures, Human foot, Foot skeleton, Foot bones, Lateral view
Articulating structures of ankle joint (lateral view) by Anatomy.app
Ankle joint, Bones of leg, Tibia, Fibula, Tarsals, Talus, Articulating structures, Human foot, Foot skeleton, Foot bones, Posteromedial view
Articulating structures of ankle joint (posteromedial view) by Anatomy.app

 

Joint capsule

The ankle joint is surrounded by the fibrous joint capsule. It is attached to the margins of the articular surfaces of all bones and the neck of the talus.

Ankle joint, Joint capsule, Human foot, Foot skeleton, Ligaments of foot, Lateral view, Tarsals, Metatarsals, Tibia, Fibula
Joint capsule of ankle joint by Anatomy.app

 

Ligaments of ankle joint

The bones of the ankle joint are bound together by two strong ligaments:

  • Medial collateral ligament (or the deltoid ligament) - it is attached to the medial malleolus and consists of four ligaments (anterior and posterior tibiotalar, tibionavicular and tibiocalcaneal); all ligaments stretch from the tibia to the bones of the foot;
  • Lateral collateral ligament - it is connected to the lateral malleolus and consists of three separate ligaments (anterior and posterior talofibular and calcaneofibular ligaments).
Ankle joint, Bones of leg, Tibia, Fibula, Tarsals, Talus, Ligaments, Medial collateral ligament, Lateral collateral ligament, Human foot, Foot skeleton, Foot bones, Posteromedial view
Medial and lateral collateral ligaments of ankle joint by Anatomy.app
Ankle joint, Bones of leg, Tibia, Fibula, Tarsals, Talus, Ligaments, Lateral collateral ligament, Human foot, Foot skeleton, Foot bones, Lateral view
Lateral collateral ligament of ankle joint by Anatomy.app

The anterior tibiotalar ligament extends from the tibia to the head of the talus, while the posterior tibiotalar ligament streches to the posterior end of the body of the talus. The tibionavicular ligament connects the tibia with the navicular bone, and the tibiocalcaneal ligament links the tibia with the calcaneus.

Ankle joint, Bones of leg, Tibia, Fibula, Tarsals, Talus, Ligaments, Human foot, Foot skeleton, Foot bones, Posteromedial view
Ligaments of ankle joint (posteromedial view) by Anatomy.app

The anterior talofibular ligament of the lateral collateral ligament is situated between the lateral malleolus and the head of the talus, while the posterior talofibular ligament stretches between the lateral malleolus and the posterior end of the talus. The calcaneofibular ligament is situated between the lateral malleolus and the lateral surface of the calcaneus.

Ankle joint, Bones of leg, Tibia, Fibula, Tarsals, Talus, Ligaments, Human foot, Foot skeleton, Foot bones, Lateral view
Ligaments of ankle joint (lateral view) by Anatomy.app

 

Movements of ankle joint

The ankle joint is a uniaxial joint. Therefore, it permits two movements:

  • Flexion of the foot
  • Extension of the foot
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