The hinge joint between the foot and the leg. The uppermost bone of the foot, called the talus (ankle-bone), fits between the two bony protruberances formed by the lower ends of the tibia (shin-bone) and fibula. Strong ligaments on each side of the ankle joint provide support and limit movement. On the outside of the ankle are three main ligaments called the anterior talo-fibular ligament (connecting the talus and the fibula at the front), the calcaneo-fibular ligament (connecting the calcaneus bone to the talus), and the posterior talo-fibular ligament (connecting the talus and fibula at the back). Holding the tibia to the talus bone on the inside of the ankle is the broad, fan shaped deltoid ligament.
The ankle joint allows up-and-down movements of the foot. Other movements of the foot, such as tilting and rotating, occur at joints in the foot itself.
