The Ankle

The ankle joint, also called the talocrural joint, is responsible for the dorsiflexion and plantar flexion of the foot. It is composed of three joints: the upper ankle joint (tibiotarsal), the talocalcaneonavicular, and the subtalar joint. Together, these two joints make up the lower ankle joint.

The upper ankle joint is comprised of the inferior surfaces of the tibia and fibula, and the superior surface of the talus. The lower ankle joint is composed of the talus, the calcaneus, and the navicular bone. It is supported by a set of ligaments: the medial collateral ligament (also known as the deltoid ligament) and the lateral collateral ligament.

The Foot

The foot is made up of 26 bones, which are divided into three groups:

⦁ seven tarsal bones,

⦁ five metatarsal bones,

⦁ and fourteen phalanges.

Image 1: Skeletal anatomy of the ankle and foot.

Tarsals

The tarsals form a strong weight-bearing platform, which is analogous to the carpals of the wrist. The proximal tarsal bones are the talus and calcaneus, while the intermediate tarsal bone is the navicular and the distal tarsals are the cuboid and three cuneiform bones (lateral, intermediate, and medial).

Metatarsals

The metatarsals are analogous to the metacarpals of the hand and are responsible for supporting body weight. On the plantar surface of the head of the first metatarsal, there are two prominent sesamoid bones (a medial and a lateral one).

Phalanges

The phalanges parallel the hand, with the lateral four toes composed of three phalanges (proximal, middle, and distal), and the great toe (hallux) comprised of two phalanges (proximal and distal).

Source: www.kenhub.com

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Image 1: www.kenhub.com