"Peroneal nerve" redirects here. It is not to be confused with Perineal nerve.
Common fibular (peroneal) nerve
Nerves of the right lower extremity Posterior view. (Common fibular labeled at center right.)
Details
From
sacral plexus via sciatic nerve (L4-S2)
To
Deep fibular nerve and Superficial fibular nerve
Innervates
Anterior compartment of leg, lateral compartment of leg, extensor digitorum brevis
Identifiers
Latin
Nervus fibularis communis, Nervus peronaeus communis
MeSH
D010543
TA
A14.2.07.047
FMA
19039
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy
[edit on Wikidata]
The common fibular nerve (common peroneal nerve; external popliteal nerve; lateral popliteal nerve) is a nerve in the lower leg that provides sensation over the posterolateral part of the leg and the knee joint. It divides at the knee into two terminal branches: the superficial fibular nerve and deep fibular nerve, which innervate the muscles of the lateral and anterior compartments of the leg respectively. When the common fibular nerve is damaged or compressed, foot drop can be the end result.
Contents
1Structure
1.1Cutaneous branches
1.2Articular branches
1.3Motor branches
2Function
3Clinical significance
4Additional images
5See also
6References
7External links
Structure
The common fibular nerve is the smaller terminal branch of the sciatic nerve. The common fibular nerve has root values of L4, L5, S1, and S2. It arises from the superior angle of the popliteal fossa and extends to the lateral angle of the popliteal fossa, along the medial border of the biceps femoris. It then winds around the neck of the fibula to pierce the fibularis longus and divides into terminal branches of superficial fibular nerve and deep fibular nerve. Before its division, the common fibular nerve gives off several branches in the popliteal fossa.[1]
Cutaneous branches
Lateral sural cutaneous nerve (lateral cutaneous nerve of calf) - supplies the skin of the upper two-thirds of the lateral side of leg.[1]
sural communicating nerve - it runs on the posterolateral aspect of the calf and joins the sural nerve.[1]
Articular branches
Superior lateral genicular nerve - accompanies artery of the same name and lies above the lateral femoral condyle.[1]
Inferior lateral genicular nerve - accompanies artery of the same name and lies just above the head of the fibula.[1]
Recurrent genicular nerve - It arises from the point of division of the common fibular nerve; then ascends anterior to the knee joint together with the anterior recurrent tibial artery to supply the knee joint and the tibialis anterior muscle.[1]
Motor branches
There is only one motor branch that arises directly from common fibular nerve, the nerve to the short head of the biceps femoris muscle.[1]
Function
The common fibular nerve innervates the short head of the biceps femoris muscle via a motor branch that exits close to the gluteal cleft.[2] The remainder of the fibular-innervated muscles are innervated by its branches, the deep fibular nerve and superficial fibular nerve.
It provides sensory innervation to the skin over the upper third of the lateral aspect of the leg via the lateral sural cutaneous nerve.[2] It gives the aural communicating nerve which joins the sural nerve in the midcalf.
Clinical significance
Chronic fibular (peroneal) neuropathy can result from, among other conditions, bed rest of long duration, hyperflexion of the knee, peripheral neuropathy, pressure in obstetric stirrups, and conditioning in ballet dancers. The most common cause is habitual leg crossing that compresses the common fibular nerve as it crosses around the head of the fibula.[3] Transient trauma to the nerve can result from peroneal strike.
Damage to this nerve typically results in foot drop, where dorsiflexion of the foot is compromised and the foot drags (the toe points) during walking; and in sensory loss to the dorsal surface of the foot and portions of the anterior, lower-lateral leg. A common yoga kneeling exercise, the Vajrasana, has been linked to a variant called yoga foot drop.[4][5]
Surgical procedures involving the nerve involve:
Fibular nerve decompression
To surgically decompress the common fibular nerve, an incision is made over the neck of the fibula. Fascia surrounding the nerves to the lateral side of the leg is released.[6][7][8][9]
Deep fibular nerve decompression
In the surgical treatment of deep peroneal nerve entrapment in the foot, a ligament from the extensor digitorum brevis muscle that crosses over the deep peroneal nerve, putting pressure on it and causing pain, is released.[9]
Additional images
Front and posterior views of cutaneous nerves of the right lower extremity
Common fibular nerve
Common peroneal nerve
Common peroneal nerve
See also
This article uses anatomical terminology; for an overview, see anatomical terminology.
Deep fibular nerve
Peroneal strike
Peroneal vein
Peroneus muscles
References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 964 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
^ abcdefgKrishna, Garg (2010). "Popliteal fossa (Chapter 6)". BD Chaurasia's Human Anatomy (Regional and Applied Dissection and Clinical) Volume 2 - Lower limb, abdomen, and pelvis (Fifth ed.). India: CBS Publishers and Distributors Pvt Ltd. p. 87,88. ISBN 978-81-239-1864-8.
^ abKatirji, Bashar (2007). Electromyography in Clinical Practice: A Case Study Approach, 2nd ed. Mosby Elsevier. p. 146. ISBN 9780323028998.
^Bradley, Walter G.; et al. (2004). Neurology in Clinical Practice (4th ed.). Philadelphia: Butterworth-Heinemann. pp. 453–454. ISBN 0-7506-7469-5.
^Joseph Chusid (August 9, 1971). "Yoga Foot Drop". JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association. 271 (6): 827–828. doi:10.1001/jama.1971.03190060065025. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
^William J. Broad (January 5, 2012). "How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body". The New York Times Magazine. Retrieved August 29, 2012.
^"Peroneal Nerve Injury (Foot Drop)", Neurology and Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 2013-12-18, retrieved 2013-12-18
^"Peroneal Nerve Entrapment at the Fibular Head", Department of Neurosurgery, NYU Langone Medical Center, 2013-12-18, retrieved 2013-12-18
… of the nerve. One common situation is numbness along the lateral shin and dorsum of the foot after crossing the legs secondary to compression of the peroneal nerve as it passes across the fibular neck. …
… block. Equipment used, contraindications, and complications common to all nerve blocks are discussed separately. Lower thoracic intercostal nerve blocks can be used for upper abdominal procedures (eg, cholecystectomy …
…contraindications, and complications common to all nerve blocks are discussed separately. Nerve blocks for airway anesthesia for awake intubation and infraorbital and mental nerve blocks are also discussed separately …
… junction. There are a number of commonnerve transfers for the upper extremity. The motor branch of the ulnar nerve can be transferred to the musculocutaneous nerve in order to restore elbow flexion. This procedure …
… recommended, another approach is planned (or urgent) phrenic nerve reconstruction if there is a high likelihood that both nerves are involved. Phrenic nerve repair extends operative time, requires microsurgical …
English Journal
Peroneal nerve location at the fibular head: an anatomic study using 3D imaging.
Rausch V, Hackl M, Oppermann J, Leschinger T, Scaal M, Müller LP, Wegmann K.
Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery. 2019 Jul;139(7)921-926.
Injuries to the peroneal nerve are a common complication in operative treatment of proximal tibial or fibular fractures. To minimize the risk of iatrogenic injury to the nerve, detailed knowledge of the anatomy of the peroneal nerve is essential. Aim of this study was to present a detailed descripti
We aimed to study the receptor origin and postsynaptic potential profile of the medium latency reflex (MLR) response that develops in the soleus muscle when common peroneal nerve of antagonist tibialis anterior (TA) muscle is electrically stimulated. To achieve this aim, we electrically stimulated c
Anatomical Science International 92(4), 581-584, 2017-09
… The inferior belly of this muscle fused with the posterior surface of the crural fascia and was innervated by the tibial nerve. … Muscle IV separated from the adductor magnus muscle, passed between the long and short heads of the biceps, fused with the inferior belly of muscle III, and was innervated by the muscular branch of the commonfibularnerve to the short head of the biceps. …
… Peroneal neuropathy is one of the common focal mononeuropathies in the lower extremities occurring in both adults and children. … Foot drop due to weakness of ankle dorsiflexion is the most common presentation of a peroneal neuropathy. … The most common site of injury is the fibular head, but focal neuropathies have also been reported at the level of the calf, ankle, and foot. …
The common fibular nerve follows the medial border of the biceps femoris, running in a lateral and inferior direction, over the lateral head of the gastrocnemius. At this point, the nerve
Common Fibular Nerve - want to learn more about it? Our engaging videos, interactive quizzes, in-depth articles and HD atlas are here to get you top results faster. Sign up for your free Kenhub account today and join over 1,069,711 ...
INTRODUCTION: The common peroneal nerve (common fibular nerve, external popliteal nerve, lateral popliteal nerve) is a nerve in the lower leg that provides sensation and motor function to parts of the lower leg. When damaged or ...