Joints+of+the+Ankle

toc

=Joints= Guess how many joints are in the ankle. Your answer: One? No. There’s actually two joints in the ankle--the **subtalar joint** and the **true ankle joint.** Now don’t worry they’re simple to understand. Just don’t forget to put your thinking caps on.

= =

True Ankle Joint
[| The true ankle joint] is composed of three bones: the tibia, fibula, and talus. You have already learned about these three bones. Now, let’s proceed to the actual function of the joint. Joints allow for movement. The true ankle joint allows the ankle to move up and down. Whenever someone points their toes, swims, or even walks the true ankle joint is being used.

Subtalar Joint
The [|subtalar joint] sits directly below the true ankle joint and contains two bones. The talus and the calcaneous make up the subtalar joint. Since the true ankle joint allows for up and down movement, can you guess what movement the subtalar joint allows for? The subtalar joint lets the ankle move from side to side.

Cartilage
The ends of bones where bones articulate are covered with //[|articular cartilage]//. Articular cartilage is made of hyaline cartilage and synovial fluid. Synovial fluid lubricates the joint to make it slick and thick to reduce bone rubbing on bone.

Ligaments
Ligaments in the ankle connect bone to bone. The major ligaments of the ankle are the anterior tibiofibular ligament, the lateral collateral ligaments, and the deltoid ligaments. Don’t worry these will be easy to learn. The anterior tibiofibular ligament connects the tibia to the fibula (easy to remember since their names are in the joint’s name). The lateral collateral ligaments connects the fibula to the calcaneous (remember that the fibula is the //lateral// bone of the leg—//lateral// collateral ligaments). The lateral collateral ligaments also provide lateral stability for the ankle. Think of these ligaments as little braces. Located on the medial side (towards the middle or center of the body) of the ankle are the deltoid ligaments. The deltoid ligaments connect the tibia to the talus and the calcaneous. These ligaments provide for medial stability—deltoid sounds like del, a computer, which is the center of your life—towards the inside.



Not too bad—right? Just remember mainly three bones (tibia, fibula, talus) and the calcaneous, three ligaments (anterior tibiofibular, lateral collateral, and deltoid), two types of joints (true ankle and subtalar), and cartilage covering the bone ends.