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The ankle joint is a hinged synovial joint formed by the articulation of the talus, tibia, and fibula bones. The movement of the ankle is key for maintaining posture and balance, but it is most important in locomotion. The muscles that generate movement at the ankle are generally found in the lower leg and can be split into three categories: anterior, posterior, and lateral compartments. The lateral compartment is composed of two muscles: the peroneus longus and the peroneus brevis, which produce plantarflexion and eversion of the foot. The fibularis brevis and fibularis longus muscles also control eversion.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition of ankle eversion | Tilting of the foot so the sole faces away from the midline |
| Muscles that control ankle eversion | Fibularis longus, fibularis brevis, peroneus longus, peroneus brevis, peroneus tertius, extensor digitorum longus |
| Other types of ankle movement | Plantar flexion, dorsiflexion, inversion |
| Ligaments that stabilise the ankle during eversion | Deltoid ligament, anterior and posterior tibiotalar ligaments, tibionavicular ligament, tibiocalcaneal ligament, anterior and posterior talofibular ligaments, calcaneofibular ligament |
| Bones that form the ankle joint | Talus, tibia, fibula |
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What You'll Learn
The fibularis longus and brevis muscles
The primary function of the fibularis longus is to produce eversion and plantarflexion of the foot at the ankle joint. It arises from the superior and lateral aspect of the fibula, with its tendon descending into the foot and running posterior to the lateral malleolus. The fibularis longus also supports the lateral and transverse arches of the foot. Additionally, it supplies motor innervation to the fibularis brevis muscle.
The fibularis brevis, also known as the peroneus brevis, assists the fibularis longus in eversion of the foot. It originates from the fibula and attaches to the little toe. Together, these two muscles prevent excessive inversion of the foot, as there is a physiological preference for the foot to invert.
The ankle joint is a hinged synovial joint formed by the articulation of the talus, tibia, and fibula bones. It permits movements such as plantar flexion, dorsiflexion, inversion, and eversion. The joint is held in place by strong ligaments, which can be easily damaged during strenuous inversion and eversion. The deltoid ligament, in particular, provides stability to the ankle joint during eversion and prevents subluxation.
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The peroneus longus and brevis muscles
The peroneus longus is a superficial muscle, meaning it is located close to the skin and can easily be seen and felt. It is a major mover and stabiliser of the foot and ankle. The muscle runs down the lateral side of the lower leg and attaches to the foot. The peroneus longus originates at the head of the fibula and the upper half of the shaft of the fibula on the outer part of the lower leg. The muscle then turns into a tendon and attaches to the bottom of the foot at the medial cuneiform bone and first metatarsal bone. The peroneus longus is a strong muscle with high tensile strength, and its tendon is able to withstand high forces that may occur during activities such as walking and running.
The peroneus brevis, also known as the fibularis brevis, is a short muscle that lies in the lateral part of the lower leg, deep to the peroneus longus. It is one of the three ankle everters. The peroneus brevis originates from the distal two-thirds of the lateral fibula and its tendon passes downwards and loops posterior to the lateral malleolus. The muscle inserts on the styloid process at the proximal end of the fifth metatarsal. The peroneus brevis is responsible for 63% of the power needed to evert the foot.
Both the peroneus longus and brevis muscles also assist in plantar flexion of the foot, which is the movement of the foot downwards away from the lower leg. These muscles work with the gastrocnemius (calf) muscle to point the toes down.
Injuries to the peroneus longus and brevis muscles can occur during a lateral ankle sprain. The peroneus longus tendon can become damaged during sudden dorsiflexion or inversion of the foot, leading to tendon subluxation where the tendon moves out of place and then snaps back into place. This condition may cause pain or discomfort and can take several months to heal completely.
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The deltoid ligament
The tibionavicular ligament passes forward to insert into the tuberosity of the navicular bone and blends with the medial margin of the plantar calcaneonavicular ligament. The tibiocalcaneal ligament descends almost perpendicularly to insert into the sustentaculum tali of the calcaneus. The posterior tibiotalar ligament connects the posterior colliculus of the medial malleolus to the posteromedial surface of the talus. The anterior tibiotalar ligament, or deep fibres, attach from the anterior colliculus of the medial malleolus to the medial talus and medial tubercle.
To prevent ankle sprains and instabilities, rehabilitation exercises can be performed to reinforce and retrain the medial ligaments of the ankle, including the deltoid ligament. These exercises help to prevent excessive eversion of the ankle, which can lead to trauma or sprains.
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The tibialis anterior muscle
The ankle joint is a hinged synovial joint formed by the articulation of the talus, tibia, and fibula bones. The articular capsule surrounds the joints and is attached above to the borders of the articular surfaces of the tibia and malleoli. The ankle joint is held in place by numerous strong ligaments that can be easily damaged during strenuous inversion and eversion. The deltoid ligament, consisting of four ligaments, forms a triangle connecting the tibia to the navicular, the calcaneus, and the talus. It stabilizes the ankle joint during eversion of the foot and prevents subluxation.
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The extensor digitorum longus
The function of the EDL is to extend the lateral four digits and dorsiflex the ankle. It is important to note that the EDL tends to be overactive and tight when the tibialis anterior muscle is inhibited. This imbalance can be addressed through stretching and myofascial release of the EDL, along with activation of the tibialis anterior, to improve functional ankle dorsiflexion.
While the EDL does play a role in ankle movement, it is not directly responsible for ankle eversion. Ankle eversion refers to the tilting of the foot so that the sole faces away from the midline of the body. This movement is facilitated by muscles in the lateral compartment of the leg, specifically the peroneus longus and peroneus brevis muscles. These muscles work together to evert the ankle and prevent excessive inversion.
Additionally, the deltoid ligament, consisting of four ligaments that form a triangle connecting the tibia, navicular, calcaneus, and talus bones, provides stability to the ankle joint during eversion. It helps to prevent subluxation of the ankle joint, ensuring smooth and controlled movement.
In summary, the extensor digitorum longus is a muscle in the anterior compartment of the lower leg that contributes to ankle dorsiflexion and extension of the lateral four digits. However, ankle eversion is primarily controlled by the peroneus longus and peroneus brevis muscles in the lateral compartment of the leg, with stabilization provided by the deltoid ligament.
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Frequently asked questions
Ankle eversion is the tilting of the foot so that the sole faces away from the midline.
The peroneus longus and peroneus brevis muscles, found in the lateral compartment of the leg, facilitate eversion of the ankle joint. The fibularis brevis and fibularis longus muscles also control eversion of the foot.
The fibularis brevis muscle is the deeper and shorter of the two fibularis muscles. It originates from the lateral surface of the fibula and attaches to the little toe, and its main action is eversion of the foot.
The fibularis longus is the longer and more superficial of the two fibularis muscles. It originates from the fibula and tibia, and its fibres converge into a tendon that attaches to the medial side of the foot. The fibularis longus is responsible for eversion and plantarflexion of the foot.
