talus

bone

Also known as: ankle bone, astragalus

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Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

The talus, also known as the astragalus, is a bone in the human ankle. It is one of the seven tarsal bones that form the ankle and the arch of the foot, crucial for weight-bearing and bipedal locomotion. The talus articulates with the tibia and fibula (bones of the lower leg) to create the ankle joint. It bears the body's weight and works with the other tarsal bones, such as the calcaneus (heel bone), navicular, cuboid, and three cuneiforms, to support the foot. The tarsals are analogous to the carpal bones found in the upper limb.12

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artiodactyl
General structure
…of artiodactyls is that the astragalus, one of the bones in the ankle, has upper and lower rounded articulations (areas of contact of bones) and no constricted neck, instead of simply one rounded articulation above a neck, as in other mammals. This character is so basic to artiodactyls that it…
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…of artiodactyls is that the astragalus, one of the bones in the ankle, has upper and lower rounded articulations (areas of contact of bones) and no constricted neck, instead of simply one rounded articulation above a neck, as in other mammals. This character is so basic to artiodactyls that it…
Read More