ankle-joint
Definition
- Noun:
- Anatomical term: The "ankle-joint" is the joint connecting the foot to the leg, formed by the articulation of the tibia, fibula, and talus bones, enabling movement such as flexion and extension.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- He injured his ankle-joint while playing soccer. (The joint connecting foot and leg.)
- The ankle-joint allows for smooth walking and running. (The anatomical structure enabling leg movement.)
Advanced Usage
"to sprain the ankle-joint": to injure the ligaments around the joint.
- She sprained her ankle-joint after stepping on an uneven surface. (She damaged the ligaments in her ankle.)
"range of motion of the ankle-joint": the degree of movement possible at this joint.
- Physical therapy can improve the range of motion of the ankle-joint. (Therapists work to increase flexibility.)
Variants and Related Words
Ankle (n): the region of the joint itself, often used synonymously with "ankle-joint."
- He twisted his ankle while hiking. (The same area as the ankle-joint.)
Ankle bone (n): the talus bone, part of the ankle-joint.
- The doctor examined the ankle bone for fractures. (The specific bone within the joint.)
Synonyms
- Talocrural joint: the medical term for the ankle-joint.
- Tarsal joint: a broader term for joints in the foot, but sometimes used for the ankle.
Related Idioms
"Achilles' heel": a vulnerable spot, metaphorically related to the ankle.
- His lack of patience is his Achilles' heel. (A weakness, not literally the ankle-joint.)
"On one's last legs": very tired or near collapse, sometimes involving ankle-joint fatigue.
- After the marathon, she was on her last legs. (Exhausted, possibly affecting the ankle-joint.)
Phrasal Verbs
"Roll an ankle": to twist or sprain the ankle-joint.
- He rolled his ankle while jumping. (He injured the ankle-joint.)
"Turn an ankle": to twist the foot, affecting the ankle-joint.
- She turned her ankle on the stairs. (She twisted the joint.)