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Anatly

Talus: anatomy, landmarks and articulations

Also called: ankle bone, astragalus

Quick answer

The talus is the tarsal bone that links the leg to the foot. Its dome articulates with the tibia and fibula at the ankle joint and it rests on the calcaneus at the subtalar joint. It has no muscle attachments and is largely covered by articular cartilage.

Key facts

TypeShort (tarsal) bone.
LocationBetween the tibia and fibula above and the calcaneus below.
LandmarksHead, neck, body, trochlea, lateral and posterior processes.
ArticulationsTibia and fibula (ankle joint), calcaneus (subtalar joint), navicular (talonavicular joint).
Muscle attachmentsNone; ligaments attach to it.
3D model of the talus shown with nearby bones

3D model: BodyParts3D (CC BY 4.0), adult male reference anatomy. Highlighted structure shown with nearby bones for context.

About the talus

The wedge shape of the trochlea makes the ankle most stable when the foot is dorsiflexed. Its blood supply enters through the neck, in a retrograde manner.

Clinical relevance

Frequently asked questions

Does the talus have muscle attachments?

No. It has ligamentous attachments only.

Which joints does the talus form?

The ankle (talocrural), subtalar and talonavicular joints.

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