Ankle The ankle , or talocrural region , is the region where the foot and the leg meet . The ankle includes three joint s : the ankle joint proper or talocrural joint , the subtalar joint , and the Inferior tibiofibular joint . The movements produced at this joint are dorsiflexion and plantaflexion of the foot . In common usage , the term ankle refers exclusively to the ankle region . In medical terminology , " ankle " ( without qualifiers ) can refer broadly to the region or specifically to the talocrural joint . The main bones of the ankle region are the talus ( in the foot ) , and the tibia and fibula ( in the leg ) . The talus is also called the " ankle bone " . The talocrural joint , is a synovial hinge joint that connects the distal ends of the tibia and fibula in the lower limb with the proximal end of the talus . The articulation between the tibia and the talus bears more weight than between the smaller fibula and the talus . Name derivation . The word ankle or ancle is common , in various forms , to Germanic languages , probably connected in origin with the Latin " angulus " , or Greek " αγκυλος " , meaning bent . Evolution . It has been suggested that dexterous control of toes has been lost in favour of a more precise voluntary control of the ankle joint . Anatomy . Bones . The boney architecture of the ankle consists of three bones : the tibia , the fibula , and the talus . The articular surface of the tibia is referred to as the plafond . The medial malleolus is a boney process extending distally off the medial tibia . The distal - most aspect of the fibula is called the lateral malleolus . Together , the malleoli , along with their supporting ligaments , stabilize the talus underneath the tibia . The boney arch formed by the tibial plafond and the two malleoli is referred to as the ankle " mortise " ( or talar mortise ) . The mortise is a rectangular socket . The ankle is composed of three joints : the talocural joint ( also called tibiotalar joint , talar mortise , talar joint ) , the subtalar joint ( also called talocalcaneal ) , and the Inferior tibiofibular joint . The joint surface of all bones in the ankle are covered with articular cartilage . Ligaments . The ankle joint is bound by the strong deltoid ligament and three lateral ligaments : the anterior talofibular ligament , the posterior talofibular ligament , and the calcaneofibular ligament . Though it does not span across the ankle joint itself , the syndesmotic ligament makes an important contribution to the stability of the ankle . This ligament spans the syndesmosis , which is the term for the articulation between the medial aspect of the distal fibula and the lateral aspect of the distal tibia . An isolated injury to this ligament is often called a high ankle sprain . The boney architecture of the ankle joint is most stable in dorsiflexion . Thus , a sprained ankle is more likely to occur when the ankle is plantar - flexed , as ligamentous support is more important in this position . The classic ankle sprain involves the anterior talofibular ligament ( ATFL ) , which is also the most commonly injured ligament during inversion sprains . Another ligament that can be injured in a severe ankle sprain is the calcaneofibular ligament . Mechanoreceptors . Mechanoreceptors of the ankle send proprioceptive , sensory input to the central nervous system ( CNS ) . Muscle spindles are thought to be the main type of mechanoreceptor responsible for proprioceptive attributes from the ankle . The muscle spindle gives feedback to the CNS system on the current length of the muscle it innervates and to any change in length that occurs . It was hypothesized that muscle spindle feedback from the ankle dorsiflexors played the most substantial role in proprioception relative to other muscular receptors that cross at the ankle joint . However , do to the multi - planar range of motion at the ankle joint there is not one group of muscles that is responsible for this . This helps to explain the relationship between the ankle and balance . In 2011 , a relationship between proprioception of the ankle and balance performance was seen at in the CNS . This was done by using a fMRI machine in order to see the changes in brain activity when the receptors of the ankle are stimulated . This implicates the ankle directly with the ability to balance . Further research is needed in order to see to what extent does the ankle affect balance . Disorders . Fractures . Symptoms of an ankle fracture can be similar to those of ankle sprain s ( pain ) , though typically they are often more severe by comparison . It is exceedingly rare for the ankle joint to dislocate in the presence of ligamentous injury alone . The talus is most commonly fractured by two methods . The first is hyperdorsiflexion , where the neck of the talus is forced against the tibia and fractures . The second is jumping from a height - the body is fractured as the talus transmits the force from the foot to the lower limb bones . In the setting of an ankle fracture the talus can become unstable and subluxate or dislocate . People may complain of ecchymosis ( bruising ) , or there may be an abnormal position , abnormal motion , or lack of motion . Diagnosis is typically by X - ray . Treatment is either via surgery or casting depending on the fracture types .