Anatomy

Ankle Anatomy

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Ankle Anatomy, Ankle, Ankle Joint

  • Anatomy
  • Joint
  1. Ankle Joint is broader anteriorly
  2. Ankle Joint is formed from a ring of bone and ligament
    1. The ring is relatively stable when disrupted in one location
    2. Disruption of the ankle ring in more than one location results in instability that typically requires surgical management
  3. Maximal stability with ankle dorsiflexed (Neutral)
  4. Unstable in plantar flexion (e.g. High heel shoes)
    1. Risk of chronic ankle and calf pain
  5. Images: Structure
    1. orthoLegAnkleXsGrayBB357.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
    2. AnkleAnatomyTalarJoint.jpg
    3. AnkleAnatomySubtalarFunction.jpg
  6. Images: Function
    1. AnkleAnatomyFlexion.jpg
    2. AnkleAnatomyFunctionFlexionAndExtension.jpg
  • Anatomy
  • Bones
  1. Medial and lateral malleoli function (with ligaments)
    1. Grasp talus in a Tongue and groove type joint
    2. Prevent talus medial and lateral displacement
    3. Allows for ankle plantar flexion and dorsiflexion
  2. Images
    1. orthoAnteriorBoneFoot.jpgAlso available as a Poster size image. See printing instructions and image restrictions.
    2. orthoPosteriorBoneFoot.jpgAlso available as a Poster size image. See printing instructions and image restrictions.
    3. AnkleLateralAnatomy.gif
  • Anatomy
  • Ligaments
  1. Lateral Ligaments (torn in Lateral Ankle Sprain)
    1. Anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL)
    2. Posterior talofibular ligament (PTFL)
    3. Calcaneal fibular ligament (CFL)
  2. Medial Ligaments (torn in Medial Ankle Sprain)
    1. Deltoid ligament complex (strong, wide ligament is much less frequently torn than the lateral ligaments)
  3. Interosseous ligament (torn in Syndesmotic Sprain or High Ankle Sprain)
    1. Membrane between the tibia and fibula (Syndesmotic ligament)
  4. Images
    1. orthoLegAnkleLatLigamentsGrayBB356.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
    2. orthoLegAnklePostLigamentsGrayBB358.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
    3. AnkleAnatomyLigaments.jpg
  • Anatomy
  • Tendons
  1. Medial Tendons Mnemonic (Tom, Dick and Harry)
    1. Medial Malleolus (Anterior Bony Landmark)
    2. Tibialis Posterior Tendon (Tom)
    3. Flexor Digitorum Longus Tendon (Dick)
    4. Posterior Tibial Artery
    5. Posterior Tibial Vein
    6. Tibial Nerve
    7. Flexor Hallucis Longus Tendon (Harry)
    8. Calcaneus (Posterior Bony Landmark)
  2. Images
    1. ankleMedialAndLateral.jpg
    2. orthoLegAnkleTendonsLateralGrayBB441.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
    3. orthoLegAnkleTendonsMedialGrayBB442.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
    4. orthoLegAnkleTendonLateralGrayBB1241.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
    5. orthoLegAnkleTendonMedialGrayBB1242.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)