Some of us can agree that we love rock and roll.However, most of us can also agree that we don't love it when we step on a rock, and roll our ankles.How is that for a segue into talking about the ankle?Alright, enough of the bad opening lines, let’s discuss the joints of the ankle and the foot!The ankle joint or tibiotalar joint, is a hinge-type synovial joint located between the distal ends of the tibia and the fibula and the superior part of the talus, which are the three main bones of this joint.The main articular components of this joint are the trochlea and body of the talus, which articulates medially with the medial malleolus of the tibia and laterally with the lateral malleolus of the fibula.In a nutshell, the tibia and fibula are bound together by the strong tibiofibular ligaments, and, together, their respective malleoli form a bracket shaped socket, which is covered in hyaline cartilage.This socket is known as a malleolar mortise and is where the pulley-shaped trochlea of the talus fits.The malleolar mortise is bounded posteriorly by the inferior part of the posterior tibiofibular ligament, superiorly by the articular surface of the tibia, with the medial and lateral walls being the medial malleolus and lateral malleolus respectively.The joint capsule of the ankle joint is thin anteriorly and posteriorly but is supported on each side by a series of strong ligaments.Its fibrous layer is attached superiorly to the borders of the articular surfaces of the tibia and the malleoli and inferiorly to the talus.By contrast, its synovial layer is loose and lines the fibrous layer of the capsule.Now, the supportive ligaments reinforce the ankle joint.Laterally, there’s the lateral ligament of the ankle consisting of three completely separate ligaments which help prevent inversion of the ankle.First, there’s the anterior talofibular ligament that extends anteromedially from the lateral malleolus to the neck of the talus.Second, there’s the posterior talofibular ligament, which runs horizontally, medially and posteriorly from the malleolar fossa to the lateral tubercle of the talus.And third, there’s the calcaneofibular ligament, which passes posteroinferiorly from the tip of the lateral malleolus to the lateral surface of the calcaneus.And medially, you guessed it!There’s the medial ligament of the ankle, also known as the deltoid ligament, which stabilizes the ankle joint during eversion and prevents subluxation of the joint.This ligament attaches proximally to the medial malleolus, from where it fans out, attaching distally to the talus, calcaneus, and navicular via four adjacent and continuous parts: the tibionavicular part, the tibiocalcaneal part, and the anterior and posterior tibiotalar parts.The main movements of the ankle joint are dorsiflexion, and plantarflexion.Dorsiflexion of the ankle is produced by the muscles in the anterior compartment of the leg, namely tibialis anterior extensor digitorum longus, and extensor hallucis longus.Plantarflexion of the ankle is produced by the muscles in the posterior compartment of the leg, including the gastrocnemius, and soleus in the superficial subcompartment, as well as the muscles of the deep subcompartment such as tibialis posterior, flexor digitorum longus, and flexor hallucis longus.Now, because the thicker anterior part of the talus is held in the mortise during dorsiflexion, the joint is more stable in dorsiflexion, and less stable during plantarflexion because it's the narrow, posterior part of the talus that is held more loosely in the mortise.Finally, the arterial supply of the ankle joint is derived from the malleolar branches of the fibular and anterior and posterior tibial arteries.And nerve supply of the ankle joint derives from the tibial nerve and deep fibular nerve.Before the joints of the foot kick in, you know the drill; let’s take a break and review the main components of the ankle joint!Ok, so some of the main joints of the foot include the subtalar joint, transverse tarsal joint, other intertarsal joints, tarsometatarsal joints, metatarsophalangeal joints, and interphalangeal joints.Let’s start out with the subtalar joint, which can be defined in two ways.First, the anatomical subtalar joint.This joint is a single synovial joint between the slightly concave posterior calcaneal articular surface of the talus and the convex posterior articular facet of the calcaneus.The clinical subtalar joint includes the anatomical subtalar joint, plus the talocalcaneal part of the talocalcaneonavicular joint, which are separated by the strong interosseous talocalcaneal ligament that lies in the tarsal sinus.The clinical subtalar joint is used instead of the anatomical subtalar joint description alone to describe the functionality of this joint, because both the subtalar joint and the talocalcaneal part of the talocalcaneonavicular joint act together, forming a single functional unit.The subtalar joint undergoes inversion, primarily thanks to the tibialis anterior and tibialis posterior muscles, as well as eversion primarily carried out by fibularis brevis and fibularis longus.Next, the transverse tarsal joint is a compound joint formed by two separate joints aligned transversely: the talonavicular part of the talocalcaneonavicular joint and the calcaneocuboid joint.At this joint, the midfoot and forefoot rotate as a unit around the hindfoot.Let’s take a look at the joints of the midfoot and forefoot.There are intertarsal joints between the other tarsal bones as well as the tarsometatarsal joints between the tarsal bones and the metatarsals.All of these joints permit slight gliding movements.The metatarsophalangeal joints, which are located between the metatarsals and phalanges, allow for flexion, extension, and some abduction and adduction.Finally, the interphalangeal joints found between the phalanges allow for some flexion and extension - like when you’re wiggling your toes!Let’s also discuss the major ligaments of the plantar aspect of the foot.First, the plantar calcaneonavicular ligament, also known as the spring ligament, extends across and fills a gap between the anterior margin of the sustentaculum tali and the inferior margin of the posterior articular surface of the navicular.This ligament supports the head of the talus, transfers weight from the talus, and also aids in maintaining the longitudinal arch of the foot.Then there’s the long plantar ligament, which passes from the plantar surface of the calcaneus to the groove on the cuboid with some of its fibers extending to the bases of the metatarsals.The long plantar ligament is also important in maintaining the longitudinal arch of the foot.And finally, the plantar calcaneocuboid ligament or the short plantar ligament which extends from the anterior aspect of the inferior surface of the calcaneus to the inferior surface of the cuboid.And, as expected, it is also involved in maintaining the longitudinal arch of the foot.Now, we’ve been hinting at something called arches of the foot which help support the numerous joints of the foot through activities like walking, running and jumping.There are three arches on each foot, forming a triangle with the base of the triangle at the toes and the tip at the heel of the foot.The base is formed by the transverse arch, whereas the two sides are formed by the medial longitudinal arch and lateral longitudinal arch.Because of their shape, the arches are able to act as a spring, bearing the weight of the body and absorbing the shock produced during locomotion.These arches are relatively elastic, so they can be flattened when standing, only to regain their curvature when weight is removed.Ok, so, first, the transverse arch of the foot is located in the coronal plane of the foot and it is formed by the bases of the metatarsals, the cuboid and the three cuneiform bones.Second, the medial longitudinal arch, the more important of the longitudinal arches, is composed of the calcaneus, talus, navicular, three cuneiforms, and three medial metatarsals.And third, the lateral longitudinal arch is flatter and rests on the ground during standing, and is made up of the calcaneus, cuboid, and lateral two metatarsals.Now, the arches are also supported by four successive fibrous layers, which, from superficial to deep, include the plantar aponeurosis; the long plantar ligament; the short plantar ligament; and the spring ligament.Muscles also help maintain the curvature of the arches.For example, the transverse arch receives muscular support from the fibularis longus and tibialis posterior, which help maintain its curvature.The longitudinal arches receive support from flexor hallucis longus, and flexor digitorum longus, with the tibialis posterior and tibialis anterior also playing an important role in supporting the higher, medial longitudinal arch.Ta-da!

We’re done!Before we recap, let’s try to recognize the joints and arches of the foot.##SummaryOk, let’s do a quick recap.The ankle joint is a hinge-type synovial joint located between the distal ends of the tibia and the fibula and the superior part of the talus, which sits in the malleolar mortise.The joint capsule of the ankle is supported on each side by the lateral and medial ligament of the ankle.Ankle joint movements include dorsiflexion and plantar flexion.The subtalar joint and the transverse tarsal joint are two of the major joints of the foot, and are mainly involved in the inversion and eversion of the foot.The most important ligaments of the foot are the plantar calcaneonavicular (or spring) ligament, the long plantar ligament, and the plantar calcaneocuboid (or short plantar) ligament.The foot also has three bony arches supported by other fascial layers and muscle tendons.

The cuboid in the three cuneiform bones. Second, the medial longitudinal Arch, which between you and me.

Is, the more important of the longitudinal arches is composed of the calcaneus, Taylor's navicular freak uniforms and three medial metatarsals and third the lateral longitudinal Arch, which we still loved just as much.

Even if it's not as important as flattered and rests on the ground during standing and is made up of the calcaneus, cuboid and lateral to metatarsals.

The Arches are also supported by four successive fibrous layers, which from superficial to deep include the plantar aponeurosis, the long planter look him in the short plantar ligament in the spring ligament muscles also help maintain the curvature of the Arches.

For example, the transverse Arch receives muscular support from the fibularis longus and tibialis posterior, which helped maintain its curvature.

The longitudinal arches receive support from flexor hallucis longus and flexor digitorum longus with the tibialis posterior and tibialis anterior.

Also playing an important role in supporting the higher, medial longitudinal Arch. Until we're done that before we recap, let's try and recognize the joints and arches of the foot.

All right, is a quick recap. The ankle joint is a hinge types of Millville joint located between the distal ends of the tibia and the fibula and the Superior part of the tailless which sits in the mail dealer mortise, The Joint capsule of the ankle is supported on each side by the lateral and medial ligament of ankle.

Ankle joint, movement include dorsiflexion. And plantar flexion.

The subtalar Joint in the transverse. Tarsal joint are two of the major joints of the foot and are mainly involved in the inversion and e-version of the foot, the most important ligaments of the foot are the plantar calcaneal navicular or spring ligament along planter ligament and the plantar calcaneal cuboid or short.

Plantar ligament the foot also has three bony arches supported by other fascial layers in