Ligaments of the leg, ankle and foot

Question 1

4 ligaments of the deltoid ligament

Answer 1

1. tibionavicular
2. tibiocalcaneal
3. anterior tibiotalar
4. posterior tibiotalar

Question 2

Tibionavicular ligament

Answer 2

Tibia + Navicular

• limits excessive eversion in plantar flexion
• prevents inward displacement of head of talus

Question 3

Tibiocalcaneal ligament

Answer 3

Tibia + Calacanues

• limits eversion
• prevents valgus displacement of ankle

Question 4

Posterior tibiotalar ligament

Answer 4

Tibia + talus

• resists dorsiflexion

Question 5

Anterior tibiotalar ligament

Answer 5

Tibia + talus

• resists plantarflexion
• limits eversion in dorsiflexion

Question 6

Spring ligament (plantar calcaneonavicular ligament)

Answer 6

Sustentaculum tali + navicular

Maintains the longitudinal arch of the foot

Question 7

Anterior talofibular ligament

Answer 7

lateral malleolus + talus

• resists foot inversion
• resists medial (internal) rotation of the talus within the ankle mortise
• resists anterior shift of the foot in anatomical position (anterior shift of the talus)

Question 8

Calacaneofibular ligament

Answer 8

lateral malleolus + lateral part of calcaneus

• resists extreme inversion and dorsiflexion

Question 9

Posterior talofibular ligament

Answer 9

back of lateral malleolus + back of talus

• limits posterior shift of the talus (or anterior shift of the fibular-tibia)
• limits external rotation of the talus (or internal rotation of the fibula)

Question 10

Short plantar ligament (plantar calcaneocuboidal)

Answer 10

plantar side of calcaneus + cuboid

• helps maintain the longitudinal arches of the foot

Question 11

Long plantar ligament (plantar calcaneometatarsal)

Answer 11

plantar side of calcaneus + bases of lateral metatarsals

• helps support the longitudinal arches of the foot
• converts the groove of cuboid into a tunnel for tendon of fibularis longus to pass

Question 12

Bifurcate ligament

Answer 12

calcaneus + cuboid + navicular

just attaches bones

Question 13

Interosseous talocalcaneal ligament

Answer 13

inside the tarsal sinus
calcaneal sulcus + talar sulcus

• serves as a fulcrum about which movements between the talus and calcaneus take place

Question 14

Plantar fascia (plantar aponeurosis)

Answer 14

underside of calcaneus + base of proximal phalanges

• heightens the arch of the foot by lengthening when the metatarsophalangeal joint passively extends during walking
• windlass effect*

Question 15

Intertarsal ligaments

Answer 15

join tarsals together

Question 16

Tarsometatarsal ligaments

Answer 16

join tarsals and metatarsals