Lateral sural cutaneous nerve

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Lateral sural cutaneous nerve
Sural nerve formation.jpg
Cutaneous nerves of the right lower extremity. Front and posterior views. Lateral sural cutaneous nerve is not labeled. (Com. peroneal labeled in blue at center left and center right.)
RobertSteele SuralNerve GraysMODified.png
Dissection of popliteal space to show the formation of a type 1 sural nerve
Details
From common peroneal nerve
Tocutaneous innervation of the lateral calf
Identifiers
Latin nervus cutaneus surae lateralis
TA98 A14.2.07.048
TA2 6572
FMA 44697
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

The lateral sural cutaneous nerve of the lumbosacral plexus supplies the skin on the posterior and lateral surfaces of the leg. The lateral sural cutaneous nerve originates from the common fibular nerve (L4-S2) and is the terminal branch of the common fibular nerve.

Contents

Sural communicating branch

One branch, the sural communicating nerve or colloquially known as the peroneal anastomotic (n. communicans fibularis), arises from sciatic origins near the head of the fibula, crosses the lateral head of the gastrocnemius to the middle of the leg, and joins with the medial sural cutaneous nerve to form the sural nerve [1] [2]

Variation

Another branch observed, that is mentioned in passing in previous literature is the medial branch of the lateral sural cutaneous nerve. [3]

In a 2021 study by Steele et al. (Annals of Anatomy), a medial branch of the lateral sural cutaneous nerve was observed in approximately 36% of lower extremities dissected (n=208) with an average diameter of 1.47 ± 0.655 mm with a 95% CI of 1.31 – 1.625 mm. This branch was noted to travel in a subcutaneous plane over the sural nerve to the posteromedial aspect of the ankle. "The lateral branch of the LSCN traveled the expected course over the fibula in the superficial fascia of the posterolateral compartment of the leg, while the medial branch terminates into the lower posteromedial aspect of ankle." [4]

Additional images

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human leg</span> Lower extremity or limb of the human body (foot, lower leg, thigh and hip)

The leg is the entire lower limb of the human body, including the foot, thigh or sometimes even the hip or buttock region. The major bones of the leg are the femur, tibia, and adjacent fibula. The thigh is between the hip and knee, while the calf (rear) and shin (front) are between the knee and foot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fibularis longus</span> Superficial muscle in the lateral compartment of the leg

In human anatomy, the fibularis longus is a superficial muscle in the lateral compartment of the leg. It acts to tilt the sole of the foot away from the midline of the body (eversion) and to extend the foot downward away from the body at the ankle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Popliteal artery</span> Continuation of the femoral artery that supplies the lower leg

The popliteal artery is a deeply placed continuation of the femoral artery opening in the distal portion of the adductor magnus muscle. It courses through the popliteal fossa and ends at the lower border of the popliteus muscle, where it branches into the anterior and posterior tibial arteries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tibial nerve</span> Branch of the sciatic 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fibularis brevis</span> Shorter and smaller of the fibularis (peroneus) muscles

In human anatomy, the fibularis brevis is a muscle that lies underneath the fibularis longus within the lateral compartment of the leg. It acts to tilt the sole of the foot away from the midline of the body (eversion) and to extend the foot downward away from the body at the ankle.

The common fibular 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 ensue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Superficial fibular nerve</span> Nerve in the human leg and foot

The superficial fibular nerve is a mixed nerve that provides motor innervation to the fibularis longus and fibularis brevis muscles, and sensory innervation to skin over the antero-lateral aspect of the leg along with the greater part of the dorsum of the foot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deep fibular nerve</span> Type of nerve

The deep fibular nerve begins at the bifurcation of the common fibular nerve between the fibula and upper part of the fibularis longus, passes infero-medially, deep to the extensor digitorum longus, to the anterior surface of the interosseous membrane, and comes into relation with the anterior tibial artery above the middle of the leg; it then descends with the artery to the front of the ankle-joint, where it divides into a lateral and a medial terminal branch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Popliteal fossa</span> Depression at back of knee joint

The popliteal fossa is a shallow depression located at the back of the knee joint. The bones of the popliteal fossa are the femur and the tibia. Like other flexion surfaces of large joints, it is an area where blood vessels and nerves pass relatively superficially, and with an increased number of lymph nodes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sural nerve</span> Pure cutaneous nerve of the posterolateral leg to the lateral ankle

The sural nerve(L4-S1) is generally considered a pure cutaneous nerve of the posterolateral leg to the lateral ankle. The sural nerve originates from a combination of either the sural communicating branch and medial sural cutaneous nerve, or the lateral sural cutaneous nerve. This group of nerves is termed the sural nerve complex. There are eight documented variations of the sural nerve complex. Once formed the sural nerve takes its course midline posterior to posterolateral around the lateral malleolus. The sural nerve terminates as the lateral dorsal cutaneous nerve.

The saphenous nerve is the largest cutaneous branch of the femoral nerve. It is derived from the lumbar plexus (L3-L4). It is a strictly sensory nerve, and has no motor function. It commences in the proximal (upper) thigh and travels along the adductor canal. Upon exiting the adductor canal, the saphenous nerve terminates by splitting into two terminal branches: the sartorial nerve, and the infrapatellar nerve. The saphenous nerve is responsible for providing sensory innervation to the skin of the anteromedial leg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Intermediate dorsal cutaneous nerve</span>

The intermediate dorsal cutaneous nerve is the smaller and more lateral one of the two terminal branches of the superficial fibular nerve. It passes over the third intermetatarsal space before itself bifurcating into two terminal branches: the lateral dorsal digital nerve of the third toe, and the medial dorsal digital nerve of the fourth toe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medial dorsal cutaneous nerve</span>

The medial dorsal cutaneous nerve is the more medial one of the two terminal branches of the superficial fibular nerve. Through its branches, it provides innervation to parts of the dorsal aspects of the first, second, and third toes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medial sural cutaneous nerve</span> Sensory nerve of the leg that supplies part of the medial side of the leg

The medial sural cutaneous nerve(L4-S3) is a sensory nerve of the leg. It supplies cutaneous innervation the posteromedial leg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cutaneous innervation of the lower limbs</span> Area of the skin

Cutaneous innervation of the lower limbs is the nerve supply to areas of the skin of the lower limbs which are supplied by specific cutaneous nerves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lateral dorsal cutaneous nerve</span>

The lateral dorsal cutaneous nerve is the continuation/terminal sensory branch of the sural nerve, and is ultimately derived from the 1st sacral nerve (S1). It passes distally along the lateral part of the dorsum of foot. It gives rise to the lateral dorsal digital nerve of the 5th toe, and sometimes also the medial dorsal digital nerve of the 5th toe as well as the lateral dorsal digital nerve of the 4th toe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sural communicating branch of common peroneal nerve</span> Communicating nerve transferring nerve fascicles to the medial sural cutaneous nerve

The sural communicating nerve(SCN) is a separate and independent nerve from both the medial and lateral sural cutaneous nerves, often arising from a common trunk of the common fibular nerve The primary purpose of the sural communicating branch is to provide the structural path for transferring tibial nerve fascicular components to the sural nerve.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorsal digital nerves of foot</span> Various nerve branches that supply the toes

Dorsal digital nerves of foot are branches of the intermediate dorsal cutaneous nerve, medial dorsal cutaneous nerve, sural nerve and deep fibular nerve.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fibular artery</span>

In anatomy, the fibular artery, also known as the peroneal artery, supplies blood to the lateral compartment of the leg. It arises from the tibial-fibular trunk.

The sural nerve complex are the contributing nerves that form the sural nerve. There are eight documented anatomic variations of the sural nerve complex.

References

PD-icon.svgThis article incorporates text in the public domain from page 964 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. Robert Steele DO MS, et al. (2021). "Anatomy of the sural nerve complex: Unaccounted anatomic variations and morphometric data". Annals of Anatomy . 238 (151742): 151742. doi:10.1016/j.aanat.2021.151742. PMID   33932499.
  2. Ramakrishnan, Piravin Kumar; Henry, Brandon Michael; Vikse, Jens; Roy, Joyeeta; Saganiak, Karolina; Mizia, Ewa; Tomaszewski, Krzysztof A. (2015). "Anatomical variations of the formation and course of the sural nerve: A systematic review and meta-analysis". Annals of Anatomy - Anatomischer Anzeiger. 202: 36–44. doi:10.1016/j.aanat.2015.08.002.
  3. Huelke, Donald F. (1958). "The origin of the peroneal communicating nerve in adult man". The Anatomical Record. 132 (1): 81–92. doi:10.1002/ar.1091320106. hdl: 2027.42/49782 . PMID   13627490.
  4. Steele, R.; Coker, C.; Freed, B.; Wright, B.; Brauer, P. (2021). "Anatomy of the sural nerve complex: Unaccounted anatomic variations and morphometric data". Annals of Anatomy. 238. doi:10.1016/j.aanat.2021.151742. PMID   33932499.

Referenced papers:

Anatomy web references