Medial talocalcaneal ligament

At a glance

English

Medial talocalcaneal ligament

Latin (TA2)

Ligamentum talocalcaneum mediale

System

Ligament

Region

Foot

Side

Paired, left and right

About the medial talocalcaneal ligament

The medial talocalcaneal ligament is a short capsular band on the medial side of the subtalar joint, the joint between the talus above and the calcaneus below. It begins on the medial tubercle of the posterior process of the talus, at the back of the bone, and passes forwards and downwards to the posterior edge of the sustentaculum tali, the shelf of bone that projects from the inner side of the calcaneus and supports the talar neck and head.

Its fibres do not end in isolation. In front they merge with the spring (plantar calcaneonavicular) ligament, which runs forwards from the sustentaculum to the navicular. Above and superficially it is covered by the deep layer of the deltoid ligament of the ankle, whose tibiocalcaneal fibres also reach the sustentaculum. Close behind lies the groove between the two posterior tubercles of the talus, which carries the tendon of flexor hallucis longus; the tendon then runs under the sustentaculum, so this ligament lies right beside its course.

Together with the lateral and posterior talocalcaneal ligaments, the medial band forms part of the thin fibrous wrapping around the posterior subtalar joint. The joint itself is held chiefly by the interosseous talocalcaneal ligament in the tarsal canal. The medial band helps keep the back of the talus seated on the calcaneus and resists excessive eversion.

Clinically the region matters more for its neighbours: the tarsal tunnel behind the medial malleolus carries the tibial nerve and posterior tibial vessels nearby, and a talocalcaneal coalition, an abnormal bridge between the two bones, most often forms at the middle facet beside the sustentaculum.

Attachments and function

Attaches from

The medial tubercle of the posterior process of the talus.

Attaches to

The posterior margin of the sustentaculum tali of the calcaneus.

Function

Reinforces the medial capsule of the subtalar joint, holds the back of the talus on the calcaneus and helps resist excessive eversion.

Nerve supply

Articular branches of the tibial nerve or its medial plantar branch.

Blood supply

Branches of the posterior tibial artery.