Anterior talofibular ligament
Last revised by Lam Van Le
on 16 Dec 2024
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Khan J, Le L, Hacking C, et al. Anterior talofibular ligament. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 13 Jan 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-26925
Permalink:
rID:
26925
Article created:
14 Jan 2014,
Jawad Khan
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Jawad Khan had no recorded disclosures.
View Jawad Khan's current disclosures
Last revised:
16 Dec 2024,
Lam Van Le
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Lam Van Le had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Lam Van Le's current disclosures
Revisions:
12 times, by
10 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL)
- Anterior talo-fibular ligament
The anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) is part of the lateral collateral ligament complex of the ankle. Its role is to stabilize the talus. It is also the weakest of the lateral collateral ankle ligaments.
On this page:
Gross anatomy
The ATFL is an intracapsular flat two-banded ligament that arises from the distal anterior tip of the lateral malleolus passing anteromedially to the lateral aspect of the talus at the talar neck. It normally measures 6-10 mm long and 2 mm thick.
Variant anatomy
The ATFL is classically described as having two bands, but it may be a single band or three bands. One small cadaveric study put the prevalence of a two-band ATFL at ~50% 3.
Radiographic appearance
MRI
- T1: uniformly low signal and thickness 4
- T2: uniformly low signal and thickness 4
Related pathology
- most commonly injured lateral ligament in ankle sprains 1
- ATFL injury
See also
Quiz questions
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References
- 1. Kumai T, Takakura Y, Rufai A et-al. The functional anatomy of the human anterior talofibular ligament in relation to ankle sprains. J. Anat. 2002;200 (5): 457-65. Free text at pubmed - Pubmed citation
- 2. Banks AS, Downey MS, Martin DE et-al. McGlamry's comprehensive textbook of foot and ankle surgery. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN:0683304712. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 3. Uğurlu M, Bozkurt M, Demirkale I et-al. Anatomy of the lateral complex of the ankle joint in relation to peroneal tendons, distal fibula and talus: a cadaveric study. Eklem Hastalik Cerrahisi. 2011;21 (3): 153-8. Pubmed citation
- 4. Perrich KD, Goodwin DW, Hecht PJ et-al. Ankle ligaments on MRI: appearance of normal and injured ligaments. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2009;193 (3): 687-95. doi:10.2214/AJR.08.2286 - Pubmed citation
- 5. Nyska M, Mann G. The unstable ankle. Human Kinetics. ISBN:0880118024. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
Incoming Links
Articles:
- Ankle radiograph (an approach)
- Anterolateral recess of the ankle joint
- Talus
- Chronic ankle instability
- Ankle joint
- Lateral ankle sprain
- MRI of the ankle (an approach)
- Posterior talofibular ligament
- Calcaneofibular ligament injury
- Anterolateral ankle impingement
- Posterior talofibular ligament injury
- Calcaneofibular ligament
- Medical abbreviations and acronyms (A)
- Lateral collateral ligament of the ankle
Cases:
- Anterior tibiofibular ligament avulsion - paediatric
- Peroneus quartus muscle
- Anterior talofibular ligament injury with variant anatomy
- Anterior talofibular ligament bony avulsion - paediatric
- Midtarsal sprain - ultrasound
- Complete tear of anterior talofibular ligament
- Anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament injury
- Anterior talofibular ligament bony avulsion - paediatric
- Wagstaffe-Le Fort fracture
- Anterior talofibular ligament tear
- Ankle extensor retinaculum and lateral ligaments injuries - ultrasound
- Anterior talofibular ligament bony avulsion - paediatric
- Anterior talofibular ligament bony avulsion - paediatric
- Ankle ligaments injury
- Anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament injury
- Lateral ankle ligaments injury
- Lateral talocrural ligaments (Gray's illustration)
- Ankle and foot ligaments (Gray's illustration)
- Calcaneal avulsion fracture (ultrasound)
- Anterior talofibular ligament bony avulsion from fibula
Multiple choice questions:
Related articles: Anatomy: Lower limb
- skeleton of the lower limb
- joints of the lower limb
-
hip joint
- ligaments
- muscles
- additional structures
- hip joint capsule
- zona orbicularis
- iliotibial band
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hip bursae
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- iliopsoas bursa (iliopectineal bursa)
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posterolateral ligamentous complex
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ankle joint
- regional anatomy
- medial ankle
- lateral ankle
- anterior ankle
- ligaments
- medial collateral (deltoid) ligament
- lateral collateral ligament
- additional structures
- ankle bursae
- ossification centers of the ankle
- variants
- regional anatomy
- foot joints
- subtalar joint
- mid-tarsal (Chopart) joint
-
tarsometatarsal (Lisfranc) joint
- ligaments
- intermetatarsal joint
- metatarsophalangeal joint
- interphalangeal joint
- ossification centers
-
hip joint
- spaces of the lower limb
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muscles of the lower limb
- muscles of the pelvic group
- muscles of the thigh
- muscles of the leg
- anterior compartment of the leg
- posterior compartments of the leg
- lateral compartment of the leg
- muscles of the foot
- dorsal muscles
- plantar muscles
- 1st layer
- 2nd layer
- 3rd layer
- 4th layer
- accessory muscles of the lower limb
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accessory muscles of the ankle
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- accessory flexor digitorum longus muscle
- accessory soleus muscle
- peroneocalcaneus internus muscle
- tibiocalcaneus internus muscle
- extensor hallucis capsularis tendon
- anterior fibulocalcaneus muscle
- accessory extensor digiti secundus muscle
- tibioastragalus anticus of Gruber muscle
- vascular supply of the lower limb
- arterial supply of the lower limb
- venous drainage of the lower limb
- innervation of the lower limb
- lymphatic system of the lower limb
- lymphatic pathways
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- anterolateral group
- posteromedial group
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- lymphatic pathways
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