The ankle jointjointThe junction or articulation of two or more bones that permits varying degrees of motion between the bones. is made up of three bones: the lower end of the tibia (shinbone), the fibula (the small bone of the lower leg) and the talus, the bone that fits into the socket formed by the tibia and the fibula.
The talus sits on top of the calcaneuscalcaneusHeel bone (the heel bone). The talus moves mainly in one direction. It works like a hinge to allow the foot to move up (dorsiflexion) and down (plantarflexion).
There are ligaments on both sides of the ankle jointjointThe junction between the ends of two adjacent bones. that hold the bones together. There are many tendonstendonsFibrous bands, one at each end of a muscle, that connect the muscle to bones. that cross the ankle to move the ankle and move the toes. Ligaments connect bones to bones while tendons connect muscles to bones.
The large Achilles tendon in the back of the ankle is the most powerful tendon in the foot. It connects the calf muscles to the heel bone and gives the foot the power to walk, run and jump. Inside the joint, the bones are covered with a slick, smooth material that is called articular cartilagearticular cartilageA resilient tissue that covers the surface of bones where they meet in a joint. The cells of articular cartila.... Articular cartilageArticular cartilageCartilage that covers the articular surfaces of bones. is the material that allows the bones to move against one another in the joints of the body. The cartilage lining is about 1/4 inch thick in most weight-bearing joints such as the ankle, hip or knee. It is soft enough to allow for shock absorption but tough enough to last a lifetime—as long as it is not injured.
OsteoarthritisOsteoarthritisArthritis characterized by erosion of articular cartilage, either primary or secondary to trauma or other cond..., sometimes called degenerative arthritisdegenerative arthritisDisease that leads to the gradual deterioration of a joint; also called Osteoarthritis., is a disease that involves the breakdown of the tissuetissueA collection of similar cells and the intercellular substances surrounding them. (cartilage) that normally allows the joint to move smoothly. When the gliding surface of the cartilage is gone, the bones grind against each other, creating popping sounds, painpainAn unpleasant sensation associated with actual or potential tissue damage, and mediated by specific nerve fibe... and loss of normal ankle movement. This condition occurs primarily in people over 50.
Rheumatoid arthritisRheumatoid arthritisGeneralized inflammatory joint disease. is considered a systemicsystemicSynovial fluid. disease because it can attack any or all joints of the body. It affects women more often than men and can strike both young and old. Rheumatoid arthritisRheumatoid arthritisA chronic and progressive systemic inflammatory disease which damages many joints, especially of the hands and... causes the body's immune system to produce a chemical that attacks and destroys the protective cartilage that covers the joint surface, causing deterioration.
TraumaTraumaPhysical injury.-related arthritis results when the joint is injured either by fracturefractureA disruption of the normal continuity of bone., dislocationdislocationDisplacement of an organ or any part; specifically disturbance or disarrangement of the normal relation of the... or damage to the ligaments surrounding the joint. This resulting damage predisposes the joint to traumatic arthritis.
