01 / Location & anatomical relationships
Between the lower leg and the top of the foot.
02 / Structure & organization
The distal tibia and fibula form a mortise around the talus. This arrangement supports dorsiflexion and plantarflexion. Inversion and eversion occur mainly through joints below and in front of the talus.
03 / Function
It helps your foot move up and down.
04 / Mechanism
The tibia and fibula form a bracket around a foot bone called the talus. This joint lets the foot move up and down. Nearby joints add side-to-side adjustment for uneven ground.
Part of a bigger picture
The ankle belongs in our legs & feet collection. Explore the nearby parts to see how this area of the body fits together.
Explore legs & feet →FOR DEEPER STUDY
Connect structure with function
Separate movement at the ankle joint from movement of the hindfoot. Ligaments on its medial and lateral sides stabilize the mortise during changing loads.
Check your understanding
Locate the ankle in relation to its neighbors. Explain how the structural features described above support its function, then distinguish it from a nearby structure with a different role.
Keep learning
Continue with OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology for system-level study. This atlas is educational and has not undergone independent medical peer review.