Ankle joint
Learning objectives
After completing this study unit you will be able to:
- Identify the bones that form the ankle joint and their articulating surfaces.
- Name the main ligaments that reinforce the ankle joint.
- Get familiar with the movements performed at the ankle joint.
Watch video
The ankle joint (a.k.a. talocrural joint) is formed by the articular surfaces of the distal parts (malleoli) of the tibia and fibula and the body of the talus and is classified as a type of synovial hinge joint. It is supported by a complex set of strong ligaments providing it with stabilization to manage the entire body weight against the ground forces below.
Watch the following video and learn everything you should know about the ankle joint, its articulations, ligaments and movements.
Take a quiz
Now that you have watched the video about the ankle joint, test your knowledge by taking our quiz about the bones and ligaments associated with it.
Customize the following quiz in order to test your knowledge about the bones, muscles and ligaments of the entire foot region.
Browse atlas
:watermark(/images/watermark_5000_10percent.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/overview_image/203/YPDwlNkd0POCbTBnJOt4rA_ankle-joint-medial-view_en.jpg){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_5000_10percent.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/overview_image/3306/yHlIMMENHptIabIwTLKgw_ankle-joint-lateral-view_en.jpg){kind=logo}
Revise everything that you have learned by analyzing each structure of the ankle joint through our atlas gallery.
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/ankle-2/hzn2tC6o6wgz0IBwjJWzqg_OpYd3Spi42qvYzubvqYQKw_Talocrural_joint_1.png "Ankle joint (Articulatio talocruralis); Image: Liene Znotina"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/tibia-6/op8oLKfQAJfJImT1DTybQ_tibia.png "Tibia; Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/talus/mh2AAjwGZlUw2Pt1lhUhQ_rvp4tyYMWn_Talus.png "Talus (Os tali); Image: Liene Znotina"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/talus-4/dLlbvqY3aqQNsUH5aH0Ig_talus.png "Talus (Os tali); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/fibula-6/gd7ulgqWrsDtxCgtJUg2Ig_fibula_.png "Fibula; Image: Liene Znotina"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/calcaneus/iP2jMJuiClKphJJ0MYGIg_xHqZzsbiWR_Calcaneus.png "Calcaneus; Image: Liene Znotina"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/medial-collateral-ligament-1/0xmwV3t9dGjIFTXxf77fwQ_deltoid1.png "Medial collateral ligament of ankle joint (Ligamentum collaterale mediale tali); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/tibionavicular-ligament/A6N0t0KsW67hoqVJp7w_tibionavicular_ligament.png "Tibionavicular ligament (Ligamentum tibionaviculare); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/tibiocalcaneal-ligament/OAwgm0yGkqVpMMYlXLVnnw_tibiocalcaneal_ligament.png "Tibiocalcaneal ligament (Ligamentum tibiocalcaneare); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/anterior-tibiotalar-ligament/oVaW11rk0ffb7G7Ixv5E8w_anterior_tibiotalar_ligament.png "Anterior tibiotalar ligament (Ligamentum tibiotalare anterius); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/posterior-tibiotalar-ligament/gW32NK6RkzPGjP2YnMdfRQ_posterior_tibiotalar_ligament.png "Posterior tibiotalar ligament (Ligamentum tibiotalare posterius); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/ligamentum-collaterale-laterale/31tCzIe9crJ4EeQ8tea7g_oqro4BsLgG_Ligamentum_collaterale_laterale_1.png "Lateral collateral ligament of ankle joint (Ligamentum collaterale laterale tali); Image: Liene Znotina"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/anterior-talofibular-ligament/na9ZU9vtfQBhTAC2PMVRiQ_Anterior_talofibular_ligament.png "Anterior talofibular ligament (Ligamentum talofibulare anterius); Image: Liene Znotina"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/calcaneofibular-ligament/IjiUu9fr8G5UShi0tbLQ_calcaneofibular_ligament.png "Calcaneofibular ligament (Ligamentum calcaneofibulare); Image: Liene Znotina"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/posterior-talofibular-ligament/lnkQjafZzCWw0Fxs7A63NQ_posterior_talofibular_ligament.png "Posterior talofibular ligament (Ligamentum talofibulare posterius); Image: Liene Znotina"){kind=logo}
Summary
| Joint type | Synovial hinge joint; uniaxial |
| Articulating surfaces | Articular facet of medial malleolus (tibia), articular facet of lateral malleolus (fibula), trochlea of talus, medial/lateral malleolar facets (talus) |
| Ligaments |
Medial collateral (deltoid): Tibionavicular, tibiocalcaneal, anterior tibiotalar, posterior tibiotalar ligaments Lateral collateral: Anterior talofibular, posterior talofibular, calcaneofibular ligaments |
| Movements | Dorsiflexion, plantar flexion |
Well done!
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