Subtalar joint
Articulatio subtalaris
The subtalar joint is the joint between the talus and the calcaneus, directly below the ankle joint. It lets the foot tilt inward and outward.
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Free 3D model of the subtalar joint. Right foot. Drag to rotate, zoom with + and − (or Ctrl + scroll), click a bone to highlight and name it.
- Talus
- Calcaneus
Key points
- The subtalar joint lies between the talus and the heel bone.
- It sits directly under the ankle joint.
- It tilts the foot inward and outward.
- It is also called the talocalcaneal joint.
What is the subtalar joint?
The subtalar joint is the joint between the talus and the calcaneus. Subtalar means "below the talus". It is the lower of the two joints that make up the ankle region.
Which bones form the subtalar joint?
The underside of the talus rests on the top of the calcaneus. The largest contact is at the back. Two smaller contacts further forward sit on a shelf of the heel bone called the sustentaculum tali.
Between the back and front contacts runs a tunnel, the tarsal canal, filled by a strong ligament that binds the two bones.
What movement happens at the subtalar joint?
It allows inversion and eversion: turning the sole inward and outward. The ankle joint above handles up-and-down movement, so the two work as a pair.
This side-to-side tilt is how the foot stays flat on a slope or uneven ground while the leg stays upright.
What holds the subtalar joint together?
The two bones are bound by a short, thick ligament that runs through the tunnel between them, the interosseous talocalcaneal ligament. It acts as the pivot the joint turns around. Further ligaments on the inner and outer sides, shared with the ankle joint, limit how far the heel can tilt.
The outer opening of that tunnel is a small hollow you can feel just in front of the outer ankle bump. It is called the sinus tarsi, and it marks the level of the subtalar joint from the outside.
Common problems with the subtalar joint
Arthritis of the subtalar joint often follows a fracture of the heel bone, because the break usually runs through the joint surface. It makes walking on uneven ground painful.
In some people the talus and calcaneus are joined by an abnormal bridge of bone, which stiffens the joint. This page describes anatomy only.
Common questions
What is the subtalar joint?
The joint between the talus and the heel bone, just below the ankle joint.
What movement happens at the subtalar joint?
Inversion and eversion, turning the sole in and out.
Is the subtalar joint part of the ankle?
It lies directly under the ankle joint and works with it, but it is a separate joint.
What is another name for the subtalar joint?
The talocalcaneal joint.
Is this 3D model of the subtalar joint free?
Yes. The interactive 3D model on this page is free to view and use for study, with no account or download needed. Its geometry comes from the open BodyParts3D data set (CC BY-SA).
About this free 3D model of the subtalar joint
The interactive 3D model on this page is free to use in your browser, with no sign-up. It is built from scan-based anatomy data, so every bone is a separate, correctly placed shape you can turn and inspect from any side.