Anatomy of the ankle joint

The ankle joint is formed by the articular surfaces of the distal ends of the tibia and fibula and the articular surface of the trochlea of the talus. The distal ends of the tibia and fibula form the tibiofibular syndesmosis. On the anterior and posterior surfaces are the anterior and posterior tibiofibular ligaments, stretched from the anterior and posterior edges to the lateral malleolus. The joint capsule is attached along the edge of the articular cartilage and on the anterior surface of the body of the talus to the neck of the talus. The ligaments of the ankle joint pass along its lateral surfaces. The medial ligament or deltoid is divided into the following parts: the anterior tibiotalar part goes from the anterior edge of the medial malleolus downwards and forwards and is attached to the posteromedial surface of the talus. The second part is the tibiofibular part, which is longer than the previous one, starts from the medial malleolus and reaches the dorsal surface of the navicular bone. The tibiofibular part of the ligament is stretched between the end of the medial malleolus and the talus. The posterior tibiotalar part goes from the posterior edge of the medial malleolus down and attaches to the posteromedial parts of the body of the talus. The following ligaments lie on the lateral surface of the ankle joint: the anterior talofibular ligament, runs from the anterior edge of the lateral malleolus to the lateral surface of the neck of the talus. The calcaneofibular ligament originates from the outer surface of the lateral malleolus and runs downward and backward, and the posterior talofibular ligament runs from the posterior edge of the lateral malleolus almost horizontally to the lateral tubercle of the posterior process of the talus.

In the distal part of the leg in the area of the foot there are synovial sheaths containing long tendons of the muscles of the leg. There are three anterior parts of the sheath: located under the retinaculum mm. extensorum inferius, medial and lateral. Tendons are located in each of them. On the anterior surface of the foot there are tendons of the anterior tibialis muscle, the long extensor of the big toe and the tendon of the long extensor of the fingers. On the medial surface behind the medial malleolus there are tendons of the posterior tibialis muscle, the long flexor of the fingers, the tendon of the long flexor of the big toe and the posterior tibial nerve. On the lateral side behind the lateral malleolus there are tendons of the long and short peroneal muscles. The Achilles tendon runs along the back surface, which is the most powerful tendon, formed from the junction of the tendons of the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles.

The Achilles tendon is the largest, formed by the fusion of the fibers of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. It does not have a synovial membrane and at the point of attachment forms a mucous sac of the calcaneal tendon. The muscles described above bend the shin at the knee joint, flex the foot, and raise the heel. On the plantar side, the superficial fascia is called the plantar aponeurosis. Most of the fibers of which originate from the calcaneal tubercle and, heading forward, disintegrate according to the number of toes.

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