Lateral collateral ligament of the ankle
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Knipe H, Weerakkody Y, Sabahi Z, et al. Lateral collateral ligament of the ankle. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 24 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-26954
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rID:
26954
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Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Henry Knipe had no recorded disclosures.
View Henry Knipe's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Yuranga Weerakkody had no recorded disclosures.
View Yuranga Weerakkody's current disclosures
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8 contributors -
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Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Lateral collateral ligament complex of the ankle
- Lateral collateral ankle ligament
- lateral collateral ankle ligament complex
The lateral collateral ligament (complex) of the ankle is a set of three ligaments that resist inversion of the ankle joint. They are more commonly injured than the medial collateral (deltoid) ligament of the ankle. They run from the lateral malleolus of the fibula to the talus and calcaneus.
Gross anatomy
The fan-like arrangement is composed of three ligaments:
-
anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL)
- anterior component
- extends anteromedially from the anterior margin of the fibular malleolus to the talus, attached inferior of its lateral articular facet and to the lateral aspect of its neck
-
calcaneofibular ligament
- middle component
- runs from the depression anterior to the apex of the fibular malleolus to a tubercle on the lateral calcaneal surface
- crossed by fibularis longus and brevis
-
posterior talofibular ligament (PTFL)
- posterior component
- runs horizontally from the distal part of the lateral malleolar fossa to the lateral tubercle of the posterior talar process
- a tibial slip of fibers connects it to the medial malleolus
- the syndesmosis can be considered as part of the lateral complex
References
- 1. Robson, H. Evans. "The applied anatomy of the lateral ligament complex of the ankle joint." British Journal of Sports Medicine 6.1 (1971): 22-24.
- 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. 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
- 4. Tham SC, Tsou IY, Chee TS. Knee and ankle ligaments: magnetic resonance imaging findings of normal anatomy and at injury. Ann. Acad. Med. Singap. 2008;37 (4): 324-9. 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:
Cases:
- Anterior talofibular ligament injury
- Anterior talofibular ligament injury
- Lateral ankle ligament reconstruction
- Anterior talofibular ligament tear
- Lateral ankle ligaments injury
- Syndesmotic and collateral ankle ligament injuries
- Lateral ankle ligament injury
- Lateral ankle ligaments injury and accessory flexor digitorum longus muscle
- Calcaneofibular ligament sprain
- Patellar fracture
- Lateral ankle ligament injury
- Lateral collateral ankle ligaments (Gray's illustration)
Related articles: Anatomy: Lower limb
- skeleton of the lower limb
- joints of the lower limb
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hip joint
- ligaments
- muscles
- additional structures
- hip joint capsule
- zona orbicularis
- iliotibial band
-
hip bursae
- anterior
- iliopsoas bursa (iliopectineal bursa)
- lateral
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knee joint
- ligaments
- anterior cruciate ligament
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- medial collateral ligament
- lateral collateral ligament
- meniscofemoral ligament (mnemonic)
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posterolateral ligamentous complex
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- patellar tendon and quadriceps tendon
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ankle joint
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- medial ankle
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- anterior ankle
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- medial collateral (deltoid) ligament
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- additional structures
- ankle bursae
- ossification centers of the ankle
- variants
- regional anatomy
- foot joints
- subtalar joint
- mid-tarsal (Chopart) joint
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tarsometatarsal (Lisfranc) joint
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hip joint
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muscles of the lower limb
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- 1st layer
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- 3rd layer
- 4th layer
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accessory muscles of the ankle
- accessory peroneal muscles
- 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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