malleolus Hear it!

malleolus Definition

mal·leo·lus (mə lē′ə ləs)

noun pl. -·li′-lī′

the rounded bony protuberance on each side of the ankle joint

Etymology: L, dim. of malleus, a hammer: see malleable

malleolus Related Forms

mal·le′o·lar adjective

malleolus Usage Examples

Converse of object

fracture: The number of malleoli fractured is useful for prognosis but is a coarse discriminator of fracture patterns.

Adjective modifier

  • medial: They revealed an oblique fracture of the medial malleolus.
  • posterior: The significance a fracture of the posterior malleolus is controversial.