Superficial peroneal nerve

Superficial peroneal nerve

Anatomy

Course
Branches from the common peroneal nerve just below the knee joint on the anterolateral side of the leg. It descends towards the foot passing between the peroneus longus and extensor digitorum longus muscles. It then becomes more superficial, piercing through the deep fascia approximately half-way down the leg. It ends in branches which supply the dorsum of the foot.

Supply

The superficial peroneal nerve provides motor innervation to the muscles peroneus longus, peroneus brevis and extensor digitorum longus. It also provides sensory innervation to the anterolateral aspect of the lower half of the leg and the dorsum of the foot.

Clinical

A superficial peroneal nerve block can be done to provide anaesthesia over the dorsum of the foot. This is done by injecting anaesthetic along the line between the lateral malleolus and the medial malleolus.

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