Anterior talofibular ligament
Ligamentum talofibulare anterius
A flat band on the outer side of the ankle joining the front of the lateral malleolus to the neck of the talus.
At a glance
- English
- Anterior talofibular ligament
- Latin (TA2)
- Ligamentum talofibulare anterius
- System
- Ligament
- Region
- Foot
- Side
- Paired, left and right
About the anterior talofibular ligament
The lateral side of the ankle is supported by three separate ligaments that together make up the lateral collateral ligament: the anterior talofibular, the calcaneofibular and the posterior talofibular. The anterior talofibular ligament is the front member of the group and the weakest of the three. It is a flat, roughly four-sided band, often in two bundles, that is really a thickening of the joint capsule.
It starts on the front border of the lateral malleolus, the lower end of the fibula. From there it runs forwards and inwards, almost horizontally when the foot is at rest, to the lateral side of the talus just in front of the facet that articulates with the malleolus, at the junction of body and neck. Its deep surface is in contact with the joint cavity, and the skin and the tendon of fibularis tertius lie superficial to it.
The ligament holds the talus back against the fibula and stops the foot sliding forwards beneath the shin. Its tension rises as the foot points downwards (plantarflexion), and in that position it is the main restraint against the foot turning inwards. This explains its importance in injury.
Rolling the ankle by landing on a pointed, inverted foot loads it before any other structure, so it is the ligament most often torn in an ankle sprain; the calcaneofibular ligament is injured next in more severe sprains. A complete tear lets the talus be drawn forwards from the tibia, a positive anterior drawer test. Repeated sprains can leave the ankle chronically unstable, and some cases need surgical repair or reconstruction of the ligament.
Attachments and function
- Attaches from
- The anterior border of the lateral malleolus of the fibula.
- Attaches to
- The lateral surface of the talus at the neck, just in front of its lateral malleolar facet.
- Function
- Resists forward displacement of the talus under the tibia and fibula, and limits inversion when the foot is plantarflexed.
- Nerve supply
- Branches of the deep fibular and sural nerves to the ankle joint.
- Blood supply
- The anterior lateral malleolar artery and the perforating branch of the fibular artery.
Anthromica
See the anterior talofibular ligament where it really sits, with every layer of the body around it.
- Every layer, one body. Peel from muscle to bone, nerve, vessel and organ, and turn it any way.
- English and Latin. Every structure named the way your exam names it.
- Quiz until it sticks. Short drills on the structures you keep missing.
Free to start. No card.
