Malleolus

Malleolus
Bone: Malleolus
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Coronal section through right talocrural and talocalcaneal joints.
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Back of left lower extremity. (Medial malleolus labeled at bottom right.)
Gray's subject #291 5


Each leg is supported by two bones, the tibia on the inner side (medial) of the leg and the fibula on the outer side (lateral) of the leg.

The medial malleolus is the prominence on the inner side of the ankle, formed by the lower end of the tibia.

The lateral malleolus is the prominence on the outer side of the ankle, formed by the lower end of the fibula.

Contents

Medial malleolus

The medial surface of the lower extremity of tibia is prolonged downward to form a strong pyramidal process, flattened from without inward - the medial malleolus.

  • The medial surface of this process is convex and subcutaneous.
  • The lateral or articular surface is smooth and slightly concave, and articulates with the talus.
  • The anterior border is rough, for the attachment of the anterior fibers of the deltoid ligament of the ankle-joint.
  • The posterior border presents a broad groove, the malleolar sulcus, directed obliquely downward and medially, and occasionally double; this sulcus lodges the tendons of the Tibialis posterior and Flexor digitorum longus.

The summit of the medial malleolus is marked by a rough depression behind, for the attachment of the deltoid ligament.

Lateral malleolus

The lower extremity of the fibula, also called the distal extremity or external malleolus, is of a pyramidal form and somewhat flattened from side to side; it descends to a lower level than the medial malleolus.

  • The medial surface presents in front a smooth triangular surface, convex from above downward, which articulates with a corresponding surface on the lateral side of the talus. Behind and beneath the articular surface is a rough depression, which gives attachment to the posterior talofibular ligament.
  • The lateral surface is convex, subcutaneous, and continuous with the triangular, subcutaneous surface on the lateral side of the body.
  • The anterior border is thick and rough, and marked below by a depression for the attachment of the anterior talofibular ligament.
  • The posterior border is broad and presents the shallow malleolar sulcus, for the passage of the tendons of the Peronæi longus and brevis.

The summit is rounded, and gives attachment to the calcaneofibular ligament.

Often, when a patient fractures his or her ankle, this is the area of bone that suffers a chip or other significant damage.

See also

Additional images

External links

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Malleolus — Mal*le *o*lus, n.; pl. {Malleoli}. [L., dim. of malleus hammer.] 1. (Anat.) A projection at the distal end of each bone of the leg at the ankle joint. The malleolus of the tibia is the internal projection, that of the fibula the external. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Malleŏlus — (lat.), 1) das Hämmerchen; 2) Knöchel; daher Malleolar, was sich auf die Knöchel bezieht, wie Malleolarbänder (Malleolaria ligamenta), Knöchelbänder; 3) (Bot.), Schößling; 4) (Malleolus), bei den Römern die Brandpfeile …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • malleolus — (n.) bone knob at the ankle, 1690s, from L. malleolus, dim. of malleus a hammer (see MALLET (Cf. mallet)). Anatomical use is said to date to Andreas Vesalius (1514 1564) …   Etymology dictionary

  • Malleolus — ist die Bezeichnung für einen Gelenksanteil, siehe Knöchel die lateinische Bezeichnung für einen Brandpfeil ein Cognomen in der Gens Publicia in republikanischer Zeit Diese Seite ist eine Begriffsklär …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Malleŏlus — (lat., »Hämmerchen«), der Knöchel am Schien und Wadenbein, daher Malleolarbänder, soviel wie Knöchelbänder; auch soviel wie Brandpfeil; endlich als Beiname des Thomas a Kempis …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Malleolus — Malleŏlus (lat.), Hämmerchen, der Knöchel am Schien und Wadenbein …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • malleolus — [mə lē′ə ləs] n. pl. malleoli [mə lē′əlī΄] [L, dim. of malleus, a hammer: see MALLEABLE] the rounded bony protuberance on each side of the ankle joint malleolar adj …   English World dictionary

  • malleolus — A rounded bony prominence such as those on either side of the ankle joint. [L. dim. of malleus, hammer] external m. SYN: lateral m.. inner m. SYN: medial m.. internal m. SYN: medial m …   Medical dictionary

  • MALLEOLUS (P.) — P. MALLEOLUS ut eum vocat Florus Livii Epitomator, vel M. Malleolus, ut placet Alexandro Neapolitano, Genial. dier. l. 1. c. 5. vel etiam Publicius, uti Paulo Orosio dicitur, l. 5. c. 1. primus apud Romanos, ob Matrem necatam, damnatus est; quod… …   Hofmann J. Lexicon universale

  • malleolus — n. either of the two protuberances on each side of the ankle: the lateral malleolus at the lower end of the fibula or the medial malleolus at the lower end of the tibia …   The new mediacal dictionary

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