Malleolus

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Malleolus
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Coronal cross-section through the right ankle showing the lateral malleolus (right) and medial malleolus (left)
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The left leg, with the medial malleolus labeled at bottom right.
Details
Identifiers
Latin malleolus
TA98 A02.5.07.014
TA2 1442
FMA 35502
Anatomical terms of bone

A malleolus is the bony prominence on each side of the human ankle.

Contents

Each leg is supported by two bones, the tibia on the inner side (medial) of the leg and the fibula on the outer side (lateral) of the leg. The medial malleolus is the prominence on the inner side of the ankle, formed by the lower end of the tibia. The lateral malleolus is the prominence on the outer side of the ankle, formed by the lower end of the fibula.

The word malleolus ( /məˈlələs,mæ-/ [1] [2] ), plural malleoli ( /məˈləˌl,mæ-/ ), comes from Latin and means "small hammer". (It is cognate with mallet .)

Medial malleolus

The medial malleolus is found at the foot end of the tibia. The medial surface of the lower extremity of tibia is prolonged downward to form a strong pyramidal process, flattened from without inward - the medial malleolus.

The major structure that passes anterior to the medial malleolus is the saphenous vein.

Structures that pass behind medial malleolus deep to the flexor retinaculum:

Lateral malleolus

The lateral malleolus is found at the foot end of the fibula, of a pyramidal form, and somewhat flattened from side to side; it descends to a lower level than the medial malleolus.

A major structure that is located between the lateral malleolus and the Achilles tendon is the sural nerve.

Clinical significance

Fracture

A bimalleolar fracture is a fracture of the ankle that involves the lateral malleolus and the medial malleolus. Studies have shown [3] that bimalleolar fractures are more common in women, people over 60 years of age, and patients with existing comorbidities. [3]

A trimalleolar fracture is a fracture of the ankle that involves the lateral malleolus, the medial malleolus, and the distal posterior aspect of the tibia, which can be termed the posterior malleolus. The trauma is sometimes accompanied by ligament damage and dislocation. [4]

Additional images

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fibula</span> Leg bone in vertebrates

The fibula or calf bone is a leg bone on the lateral side of the tibia, to which it is connected above and below. It is the smaller of the two bones and, in proportion to its length, the most slender of all the long bones. Its upper extremity is small, placed toward the back of the head of the tibia, below the knee joint and excluded from the formation of this joint. Its lower extremity inclines a little forward, so as to be on a plane anterior to that of the upper end; it projects below the tibia and forms the lateral part of the ankle joint.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ankle</span> Region where the foot and the leg meet

The ankle, the talocrural region or the jumping bone (informal) is the area where the foot and the leg meet. The ankle includes three joints: the ankle joint proper or talocrural joint, the subtalar joint, and the inferior tibiofibular joint. The movements produced at this joint are dorsiflexion and plantarflexion of the foot. In common usage, the term ankle refers exclusively to the ankle region. In medical terminology, "ankle" can refer broadly to the region or specifically to the talocrural joint.

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The extensor hallucis longus muscle is a thin skeletal muscle, situated between the tibialis anterior and the extensor digitorum longus. It extends the big toe and dorsiflects the foot. It also assists with foot eversion and inversion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radius (bone)</span> One of the two long bones of the forearm

The radius or radial bone is one of the two large bones of the forearm, the other being the ulna. It extends from the lateral side of the elbow to the thumb side of the wrist and runs parallel to the ulna. The ulna is longer than the radius, but the radius is thicker. The radius is a long bone, prism-shaped and slightly curved longitudinally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maisonneuve fracture</span> Medical condition

The Maisonneuve fracture is a spiral fracture of the proximal third of the fibula associated with a tear of the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis and the interosseous membrane. There is an associated fracture of the medial malleolus or rupture of the deep deltoid ligament of the ankle. This type of injury can be difficult to detect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tibial nerve</span> Branch of the sciatic nerve

The tibial nerve is a branch of the sciatic nerve. The tibial nerve passes through the popliteal fossa to pass below the arch of soleus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Talus bone</span> One of the foot bones that forms the tarsus

The talus, talus bone, astragalus, or ankle bone is one of the group of foot bones known as the tarsus. The tarsus forms the lower part of the ankle joint. It transmits the entire weight of the body from the lower legs to the foot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flexor hallucis longus muscle</span> One of the three deep muscles in the lower leg

The flexor hallucis longus muscle (FHL) attaches to the plantar surface of phalanx of the great toe and is responsible for flexing that toe. The FHL is one of the three deep muscles of the posterior compartment of the leg, the others being the flexor digitorum longus and the tibialis posterior. The tibialis posterior is the most powerful of these deep muscles. All three muscles are innervated by the tibial nerve which comprises half of the sciatic nerve.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flexor digitorum longus muscle</span> Muscle located on the tibial side of the leg

The flexor digitorum longus muscle is situated on the tibial side of the leg. At its origin it is thin and pointed, but it gradually increases in size as it descends. It serves to flex the second, third, fourth, and fifth toes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ankle fracture</span> Medical condition

An ankle fracture is a break of one or more of the bones that make up the ankle joint. Symptoms may include pain, swelling, bruising, and an inability to walk on the injured leg. Complications may include an associated high ankle sprain, compartment syndrome, stiffness, malunion, and post-traumatic arthritis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deltoid ligament</span> Anatomical detail in the ankle

The deltoid ligament is a strong, flat, triangular band, attached, above, to the apex and anterior and posterior borders of the medial malleolus. The deltoid ligament supports the ankle joint and also resists excessive eversion of the foot. The deltoid ligament is composed of 4 fibers:

  1. Anterior tibiotalar ligament
  2. Tibiocalcaneal ligament
  3. Posterior tibiotalar ligament
  4. Tibionavicular ligament.
<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deep fascia of leg</span> Forms a complete investment to the muscles

The deep fascia of leg or crural fascia forms a complete investment to the muscles, and is fused with the periosteum over the subcutaneous surfaces of the bones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malleolar sulcus</span> Grooves between the ankle and leg bones

The tibial malleolar sulcus, also known as the malleolar groove, is the smooth, vertical depression found on the posterior aspect of the medial malleolus. This groove is traversed by the tendons of the tibialis posterior and flexor digitorum longus muscles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crus fracture</span>

A crus fracture is a fracture of the lower legs bones meaning either or both of the tibia and fibula.

References

PD-icon.svgThis article incorporates text in the public domain from page 5 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. "Malleolus". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary . Retrieved 2016-01-22.
  2. "Malleolus". Lexico UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 2020-03-22.
  3. 1 2 Tejwani, Nirmal; et al. (2007). "Are Outcomes of Bimalleolar Fractures Poorer Than Those of Lateral Malleolar Fractures with Medial Ligamentous Injury?". Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. 89 (7): 1438–1441. doi:10.2106/JBJS.F.01006. PMID   17606780. Archived from the original on 15 February 2010. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
  4. Orthopaedic Trauma Association (September 2007). "Ankle Fractures". AAOS.