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Ankle anatomy

Ankle anatomy

Overview

The ankle is a very important joint. It allows you to walk, run, skip, jump, and shift your body weight. It stabilizes you as you move across uneven ground.

Review Date 6/27/2026

Updated by: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Chair, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dr. Peter and Sophie Pappas Endowed Chair, V-nee Yeh Endowed Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.