Talus Flashcards

Explore the talus bone, including its head, neck, body, articular surfaces, ligament attachments, blood supply, and clinical anatomy.

Card 1 of 30Question

What is the talus?

A tarsal bone that transmits body weight from the tibia to the foot and forms part of the ankle joint.

In This Section

1. What is the talus?

A tarsal bone that transmits body weight from the tibia to the foot and forms part of the ankle joint.

2. Where is the talus located?

Between the tibia and fibula superiorly, the calcaneus inferiorly, and the navicular anteriorly.

3. What are the three principal anatomical parts of the talus?

The head, neck, and body.

4. Which part of the talus is located most anteriorly?

The head of the talus.

5. Which bone articulates with the anterior surface of the talar head?

The navicular bone.

6. What is the neck of the talus?

The narrowed region connecting the talar head to its body.

7. What is the trochlea of the talus?

The superior, pulley-shaped articular surface of the talar body.

8. Which bone articulates with the superior trochlear surface of the talus?

The distal tibia.

9. Which bone articulates with the lateral surface of the talar body?

The fibula, through its lateral malleolus.

10. Which structure articulates with the medial articular facet of the talus?

The medial malleolus of the tibia.

11. Why is the ankle joint more stable during dorsiflexion?

The wider anterior trochlea fits tightly within the tibiofibular mortise.

12. Which joint is formed primarily between the talus and calcaneus?

The subtalar joint.

13. What are the three commonly described calcaneal articular facets of the talus?

The anterior, middle, and posterior calcaneal facets.

14. What is the sulcus tali?

A groove on the inferior talar neck between the middle and posterior calcaneal articular facets.

15. Which anatomical space is formed by the sulcus tali and calcaneal sulcus?

The sinus tarsi.

16. Which ligament occupies the deeper tarsal canal between the talus and calcaneus?

The interosseous talocalcaneal ligament.

17. What is the posterior process of the talus?

A posterior projection of the talar body containing medial and lateral tubercles.

18. Which tendon passes between the medial and lateral tubercles of the posterior talar process?

The flexor hallucis longus tendon.

19. What is an os trigonum?

An accessory ossicle posterior to the talus, associated with an unfused secondary ossification center.

20. Which lateral ankle ligament attaches to the talar neck?

The anterior talofibular ligament.

21. Which ligament connects the posterior talus to the lateral malleolus?

The posterior talofibular ligament.

22. Which ligament supports the plantar aspect of the talar head?

The plantar calcaneonavicular ligament, also called the spring ligament.

23. How many muscles attach directly to the talus?

None. The talus has no direct muscular or tendinous attachments.

24. Which arteries contribute to the blood supply of the talus?

Branches of the posterior tibial, dorsalis pedis, and fibular arteries.

25. Which arterial branch is particularly important for supplying the talar body?

The artery of the tarsal canal, usually arising from the posterior tibial artery.

26. Why is the talus particularly vulnerable to avascular necrosis after fractures?

Extensive articular cartilage coverage and vulnerable intraosseous vessels limit alternative blood supply.

27. What is the principal function of the talus in weight transmission?

It transfers body weight from the tibia to the calcaneus and forefoot.

28. What is a common mechanism of talar neck fracture?

Forceful ankle dorsiflexion during high-energy trauma.

29. What does the Hawkins classification describe?

Talar neck fractures according to displacement and associated joint dislocations.

30. What is the Hawkins sign after a talar neck fracture?

Subchondral radiolucency of the talar dome suggesting preserved vascularity.