Ankle Pain and Tendinitis »
How is the ankle designed, and what is its
function?
The ankle is
a "hinged" joint capable of moving the foot in two primary directions: away from
the body (plantar flexion) and toward the body (dorsiflexion). It is formed by
the meeting of three bones. The end of the shinbone of the leg (tibia) and a
small bone in the leg (fibula) meet a large bone in the foot, called the talus,
to form the ankle. The end of the shin bone (tibia) forms the inner portion of
the ankle, while the end of the fibula forms the outer portion of the ankle. The
hard bony knobs on each side of the ankle are called the malleoli. These provide
stability to the ankle joints, which function as weight-bearing joints for the
body during standing and walking.
Ligaments on each side of the ankle also provide
stability by tightly strapping the outside of the ankle (lateral
malleolus) with the lateral collateral ligaments and the inner
portion of the ankle (medial malleolus)...
Read the Ankle Pain and Tendinitis article »