Ankles

Ankles play a very important role in facilitating human movement. They are the joints between the foot and the leg and bear much of the weight of the body when standing or walking.

The bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments of the ankle work together to allow for a wide range of motion, while still providing stability and support.

The bones of the ankle include the tibia, fibula, and talus. The tibia is the larger of the two bones in the lower leg and articulates with the fibula to form the knee joint. The talus sits atop the calcaneus (heel bone) and articulates with the tibia and fibula to form the ankle joint.

The muscles of the ankle work to move the foot and leg. The gastrocnemius and soleus muscles make up the calf and attach to the heel bone via the Achilles tendon.

These muscles work together to plantar flex the foot (pointing the toes downwards). The tibialis anterior is a muscle located on the front and outer side of the shin and works to dorsiflex the foot (lifting the toes upwards).

The ligaments of the ankle work to provide stability and support to the joint. The medial and lateral collateral ligaments attach the fibula to the talus and provide stability to the outer aspect of the ankle joint.

The anterior and posterior tibiofibular ligaments attach the tibia to the fibula and provide stability to the inner aspect of the ankle joint.