Superior tibiofibular joint

Study entry

Classification

Synovial plane joint.

Surfaces

Flat articular surface of the head of the fibula and a similar posterolateral surface of the lateral condyle of the tibia.

Capsule

A firm capsule, attached to the borders of the surfaces and reinforced by the anterior and posterior ligaments of the head of the fibula, which rise from the head of the fibula to the lateral condyle of the tibia. The popliteus tendon crosses the joint behind; the popliteus bursa (recess), a diverticulum of the synovium of the knee, passes between the tendon and the condyle, and in about 20% of cases it communicates with the cavity of the tibiofibular joint.

Movements

It moves slightly in dorsiflexion of the foot, because of the fitting of the trochlea of the talus between the malleoli.

Blood supply

Inferior lateral genicular and anterior tibial recurrent arteries.

Innervation

Common fibular nerve and nerve to the popliteus muscle.

Source: cap. 7, «Articulaciones del miembro inferior»: articulação tibiofibular

Other structures in this region

• Interosseous membrane of leg
• Obturator membrane
• Distal intertarsal joints (cuneonavicular, cuboideonavicular, intercuneiform and cuneocuboid)
• Triradiate cartilage of the acetabulum
• Hip joint
• Knee joint
• Tibiofibular syndesmosis (inferior tibiofibular joint)
• Talocrural (ankle) joint