Ankle & Foot Joints

Posteromedial Approach to the Ankle, ligaments of the medial ankle and foot, gray’s anatomy plate 354
Ligaments of the medial ankle and foot, Gray’s Anatomy plate 354. Image by Henry Vandyke Carter, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.

Ankle Joint (Talocrural Joint)

  • synovial joint | modified hinge | articular surfaces are covered with hyaline cartilage
  • weight bearing surfaces
    • upper facet of talus
    • inferior facet of tibia
  • capsule
    • attached to the articular margins of fibula, tibia and talus (except for anterior part of talus – where it is fixed to neck, some distance from articular margin)
  • ligaments
    • Medial
      • Deltoid
        • 2 layers
          • Deep part
            • narrow band extending from medial malleolus to side of talus
          • Superficial part
            • triangular in shape
              • apex: medial malleolus
              • base: medial tubercle of talus, sustentaculum tali, spring ligament, tuberosity of navicular
    • Lateral
      • Anterior talofibular ligament
        • anterior border of lateral malleolus to neck of talus
      • Calcaneofibular ligament
        • tip of malleolus to lateral surface of calcaneus
      • Posterior tibiofibular ligament
        • lies horizontally
        • from malleolus to lateral tubercle of talus
  • Blood supply of capsule and ligaments
    • anterior and posterior tibial arteries
    • peroneal artery
  • Nerve supply of capsule and ligaments

Movements

  • axis of rotation
    • not fixed but changes between the extremes of PF and DF
    • direction of axis is downwards and lateral
      • lateral surface of talus
      • medial surface of talus (at higher level)
  • Talus
    • concave from side to side
    • convex anteroposteriorly
    • broad in front
    • narrow behind
  • In dorsiflexion
    • broad anterior articular area of talus is grasped by malleoli and tibia
    • lateral rotation of fibula occurs
    • 10 degrees
    • muscles
      • tibialis anterior, long toe extensors, peroneus tertius
  • In plantarflexion
    • smallest area of talus is in contact
    • no inversion or eversion is possible in ankle joint
    • 20 degrees
    • muscles
      • gastrocnemius, soleus, long flexor tendons, long and short peronei

Tarsal Joints

  • Talocalcaneonavicular joint
    • synovial joint | ball and socket
      • ball: head of talus
      • socket: navicular, calcaneus, spring ligament

Forefoot Joints

  • First tarsometatarsal Joint
  • Second tarsometatarsal Joint
  • Interphalangeal Joints

References

Author Contributions

Reviewed by Professor Phong Tran, Head of Orthopaedic Surgery, Western Health. Last updated 10 October 2026.