Ankle Joint

Dr Abayomi T.A
Department of Anatomy
UNIOSUN
• The ankle joint (or talocrural joint) is a synovial
joint located in the lower limb.
• It is formed by the bones of the leg (tibia and
fibula) and the foot (talus).
• It is a complex hinge joint.
• Its main action is to allow dorsiflexion and plantar
flexion of the foot
Articular surfaces
• In the ankle joint, articulations exist between the distal
ends of the tibia and its medial malleolus, lateral
malleolus of the fibula, and the trochlear surface of the
talus
• The distal end of the tibia articulates with the trochlea of
the talus
• The medial malleolus articulates with the medial surface
of the talus.
• The lateral malleolus of the fibula articulates with the
lateral aspect of the talus.
• All articular surfaces are covered with hyaline cartilage
Ligaments
• There are two main sets of ligaments, which
originate from each malleolus.
• Medial collateral ligament
• Lateral collateral ligament
Medial Collateral Ligament
• The medial collateral (deltoid) ligament is a strong, triangular band that reinforces
the medial aspect of the ankle joint.
• It has a proximal attachment on the medial malleolus. and inserts onto the talus,
calcaneus, and navicular bones.
• It consists of 3 bands of ligaments based on its distal attachments
• Tibionavicular: composes the superficial fibers of the medial collateral ligament
that descend from the medial malleolus to attach distally on the navicular
tuberosity.
• Tibiocalcaneal: composes the intermediate part of the medial collateral ligament
that passes from the medial malleolus to attach onto the sustentaculum tali.
• Tibiotalar: comprises the deep part of the medial collateral ligament. It consists of
an anterior and posterior portion. The anterior tibiotalar ligament descends to
attach onto the medial tubercle of the talus, while the posterior tibiotalar ligament
attaches onto the non-articular posterior part of the medial talar surface.
• Lateral collateral ligament
• reinforces the lateral aspect of the ankle joint.
• It is comprised of three distinct bands:
• Anterior talofibular – spans between the lateral
malleolus and lateral aspect of the talus.
• Posterior talofibular – spans between the lateral
malleolus and the posterior aspect of the talus.
• Calcaneofibular – spans between the lateral
malleolus and the lateral aspect of calcaneus.
Movements/Muscles involved in
ankle joint
• The ankle joint is a hinge type joint, with movement permitted in one
plane.
• Plantarflexion and dorsiflexion are the main movements that occur at the
ankle joint. Eversion and inversion are produced at the other joints of the
foot, such as the subtalar joint.
• Plantarflexion – produced by the muscles in the posterior compartment of
the leg (gastrocnemius, soleus, plantaris and posterior tibialis).
• Dorsiflexion – produced by the muscles in the anterior compartment of
the leg (tibialis anterior, extensor hallucis longus and extensor digitorum
longus).
• Inversion of the ankle is produced by the main dorsiflexor of the foot, the
tibialis anterior, as well as tibialis posterior, that acts as a plantar flexor.
• Eversion of the foot is produced by the dorsiflexor fibularis tertius, and
plantar flexors fibularis longus and fibularis brevis.
Neurovascular Supply
• Innervation
• The ankle joint is innervated by
the deep fibular (peroneal) nerve,
the tibial and sural nerves
• Blood supply
• The arterial supply to the ankle joint
is derived from the malleolar
branches of the anterior tibial,
posterior tibial and fibular arteries.
• Venous blood is drained through the
corresponding veins.
Clinical correlates
• Ankle sprain refers
to partial or complete tears in the
ligaments of the ankle joint. It usually
occurs via excessive inversion to a
plantarflexed and weight-bearing foot.
• Pott’s fracture is a term used to
describe a bimalleolar (medial and
lateral malleoli) or trimalleolar (medial
and lateral malleoli, and distal tibia)
fracture. This type of injury is produced
by forced eversion of the foot.