Lateral plantar nerve
Encyclopedia
The lateral plantar nerve (external plantar nerve) is a branch of the tibial nerve
, in turn a branch of the sciatic nerve
and supplies the skin of the fifth toe
and lateral half of the fourth, as well as most of the deep muscles, its distribution being similar to that of the ulnar nerve
in the hand
.
It passes obliquely forward with the lateral plantar artery
to the lateral side of the foot, lying between the Flexor digitorum brevis and Quadratus plantæ and, in the interval between the former muscle and the abductor digiti minimi
, divides into a superficial and a deep branch. Before its division, it supplies the Quadratus plantæ and abductor digiti minimi
. It divides into deep
and superficial
branches.
Tibial nerve
The tibial nerve is a branch of the sciatic nerve. The tibial nerve passes through the popliteal fossa to pass below the arch of soleus.In the popliteal fossa the nerve gives off branches to gastrocnemius, popliteus, soleus and plantaris muscles, an articular branch to the knee joint, and a...
, in turn a branch of the sciatic nerve
Sciatic nerve
The sciatic nerve is a large nerve fiber in humans and other animals. It begins in the lower back and runs through the buttock and down the lower limb...
and supplies the skin of the fifth toe
Toe
Toes are the digits of the foot of a tetrapod. Animal species such as cats that walk on their toes are described as being digitigrade. Humans, and other animals that walk on the soles of their feet, are described as being plantigrade; unguligrade animals are those that walk on hooves at the tips of...
and lateral half of the fourth, as well as most of the deep muscles, its distribution being similar to that of the ulnar nerve
Ulnar nerve
In human anatomy, the ulnar nerve is a nerve which runs near the ulna bone. The ulnar collateral ligament of elbow joint is in relation with the ulnar nerve. The nerve is the largest unprotected nerve in the human body , so injury is common...
in the hand
Hand
A hand is a prehensile, multi-fingered extremity located at the end of an arm or forelimb of primates such as humans, chimpanzees, monkeys, and lemurs...
.
It passes obliquely forward with the lateral plantar artery
Lateral plantar artery
The lateral plantar artery , much larger than the medial, passes obliquely lateralward and forward to the base of the fifth metatarsal bone....
to the lateral side of the foot, lying between the Flexor digitorum brevis and Quadratus plantæ and, in the interval between the former muscle and the abductor digiti minimi
Abductor digiti minimi muscle (foot)
The Abductor digiti minimi is a muscle which lies along the lateral border of the foot, and is in relation by its medial margin with the lateral plantar vessels and nerves....
, divides into a superficial and a deep branch. Before its division, it supplies the Quadratus plantæ and abductor digiti minimi
Abductor digiti minimi muscle (foot)
The Abductor digiti minimi is a muscle which lies along the lateral border of the foot, and is in relation by its medial margin with the lateral plantar vessels and nerves....
. It divides into deep
Deep branch of lateral plantar nerve
The deep branch of lateral plantar nerve accompanies the lateral plantar artery on the deep surface of the tendons of the Flexor muscles and the Adductor hallucis, and supplies all the Interossei , the second, third, and fourth Lumbricales, and the Adductor hallucis....
and superficial
Superficial branch of lateral plantar nerve
The superficial branch of lateral plantar nerve splits into a proper and a common digital nerve:* the proper digital nerve supplies the lateral side of the little toe, the Flexor digiti quinti brevis, and the two Interossei of the fourth intermetatarsal space.* the common digital nerve communicates...
branches.