Medical Term for Ankle Pulse
The medical term for the pulse on the ankle is the "posterior tibial pulse," which is palpated behind the medial malleolus of the ankle. 1
Anatomical Definition
The posterior tibial artery is the artery of the foot that supplies the posterior and lateral compartment of the leg, and its pulse can be palpated as it passes behind the medial malleolus of the ankle. 1
Clinical Context
When examining the ankle region, clinicians should be aware that there are actually two pedal pulses routinely assessed in the lower extremity:
- Posterior tibial pulse: Located behind the medial malleolus (inner ankle bone) 1
- Dorsalis pedis pulse: Located on the dorsum of the foot just lateral to the extensor tendon of the big toe (this is technically a foot pulse, not an ankle pulse) 1
Clinical Significance
Both the posterior tibial and dorsalis pedis arteries should be palpated during lower limb examination to assess peripheral arterial perfusion. 1 The posterior tibial pulse specifically refers to the ankle pulse location, while the dorsalis pedis is the foot pulse location. 1
Important clinical note: The American College of Cardiology indicates that the posterior tibial pulse has greater diagnostic reliability than the dorsalis pedis pulse when assessing peripheral arterial disease. 2