Ankle
Joint between the foot and the leg
The ankle is a complex joint in the human body that connects the foot with the leg. It plays a crucial role in movement and stability, allowing for a wide range of motion while supporting the body's weight.
Anatomy[edit | edit source]
The ankle joint, also known as the talocrural joint, is a synovial hinge joint that involves three bones: the tibia, fibula, and talus.
Bones[edit | edit source]
- Tibia: The larger and stronger of the two bones in the lower leg, the tibia bears most of the body's weight.
- Fibula: The fibula is the thinner bone of the lower leg, providing lateral stability to the ankle.
- Talus: The talus is the top bone of the foot that fits into the socket formed by the tibia and fibula.
Ligaments[edit | edit source]
The stability of the ankle is maintained by several ligaments:
- Medial (deltoid) ligament: A strong, triangular band that connects the tibia to the talus, calcaneus, and navicular bones.
- Lateral ligaments: These include the anterior talofibular ligament, calcaneofibular ligament, and posterior talofibular ligament, which connect the fibula to the talus and calcaneus.
Muscles[edit | edit source]
Muscles that control the movement of the ankle include:
- Anterior compartment muscles: Such as the tibialis anterior, which dorsiflexes the foot.
- Posterior compartment muscles: Including the gastrocnemius and soleus, which plantarflex the foot.
- Lateral compartment muscles: Such as the peroneus longus and peroneus brevis, which evert the foot.
Function[edit | edit source]
The primary functions of the ankle include:
- Mobility: Allowing movements such as dorsiflexion, plantarflexion, inversion, and eversion.
- Stability: Supporting the body's weight during standing and movement.
- Shock absorption: Distributing forces during activities like walking, running, and jumping.
Common Injuries[edit | edit source]
Ankle injuries are common, especially in athletes. Some of the most frequent injuries include:
- Ankle sprains: Often caused by rolling or twisting the ankle, leading to ligament damage.
- Fractures: Breaks in one or more of the bones forming the ankle joint.
- Tendonitis: Inflammation of the tendons around the ankle, often due to overuse.
Clinical Significance[edit | edit source]
The ankle is a critical joint for locomotion and is often subject to injury due to its role in weight-bearing and movement. Proper diagnosis and treatment of ankle injuries are essential for maintaining mobility and preventing chronic issues.
Related pages[edit | edit source]
Template:Human musculoskeletal system
Transform your life with W8MD's budget GLP1 injections from $125 and up biweekly
W8MD offers a medical weight loss program NYC and a clinic to lose weight in Philadelphia. Our W8MD's physician supervised medical weight loss centers in NYC provides expert medical guidance, and offers telemedicine options for convenience.
Why choose W8MD?
- Comprehensive care with FDA-approved weight loss medications including:
- loss injections in NYC both generic and brand names:
- weight loss medications including Phentermine, Qsymia, Contrave, Diethylpropion etc.
- Accept most insurances for visits or discounted self pay cost.
- Generic weight loss injections starting from just $125.00 for the starting dose
- In person weight loss NYC and telemedicine medical weight loss options in New York city available
Book Your Appointment
Start your NYC weight loss journey today at our NYC medical weight loss, and Philadelphia and visit Philadelphia medical weight loss Call (718)946-5500 for NY and 215 676 2334 for PA
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's NYC physician weight loss.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available. Call 718 946 5500.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD