Abstract: Objective　To study the morphological characteristics of lateral ankle ligaments and to explore their clinical significance.　Methods　Dissection was performed on 43 ankle specimens. Bundle number, route, origin and insertion for each lateral ankle ligament, and fibrous relationship near their attachments were observed and recorded.　Results　Anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) and calcaneofibular ligament (CFL) were dissected in all specimens. According to the number of ATFL bundles, the single bundle, double bundles and three bundles were defined as typeⅠ, typeⅡ and typeⅢ, accounting for 27.9%, 65.1 % and 7%, respectively. Based on the surface-deep position of the insertions of ATFL and CFL fibers at the fibula, they were divided into the following type: superficial type (8 cases, accounting for 18.6%), parallel type (19 cases, accounting for 44.2%), deep type (9 cases, accounting for 20.9%) and mixed type (7 cases, accounting for 16.3%). According to the superior-inferior attachment of ATFL-CFL, the insertion was divided into the following type: total type (5 cases, accounting for 9.3%), superior type (15 cases, accounting for 34.9%) and inferior type (24 cases, accounting for 55.8%). In 7 specimens, ATFL and CFL inserted on fibula with a complex structure, accounting for 16.3% of the total sample size. Lateral talocalcaneal ligament (LTCL) was present in 46.5% (20/43) specimens: type A 25.6%, type B 20.9%. LTCL was absent in the remaining 23 cases (53.5%).　Conclusions　The lateral ankle ligaments in Chinese specimens has some morphological variability. Morphological study would be helpful for clinical diagnosis and treatment, and it might provide anatomical basis for further exploration of the function of these ligaments.

Key words: Ankle, 　Lateral ankle ligament, 　Anatomic classification