To better understand ankle injury, it helps to understand the anatomy of the ankle joint.

The ankle consists of three bones:

• The tibia is the large, long bone in the lower leg.
• The fibula is the thin, long bone in the lower leg.
• The talus lies on top of the heel bone and supports the tibia.

Examples:

• Tibia and fibula
• Side view of ankle bones
• Front view of ankle bones on x-ray

These three bones are bonded together by strong bands, called ligaments. The ligaments, muscles and tendons keep the bones of the ankle together during movement.

Examples:

• Inner aspect of ankle joint
• View from behind the ankle joint
• Outer aspect of ankle joint