Tibial nerve

Nerve: Tibial nerve
Plan of sacral and pudendal plexuses. (Tibial nerve labelled at centre left.)
Nerves of the right lower extremity Posterior view.
Latin	n. tibialis
Gray's	subject #213 960
Innervates	Medial: abductor hallucis, flexor digitorum brevis, flexor hallucis brevis, first lumbrical Lateral: quadratus plantae, flexor digiti minimi, adductor hallucis, the interossei, three lumbricals. and abductor digiti minimi
From	sacral plexus via sciatic nerve
To	medial plantar nerve, lateral plantar nerve
MeSH	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 cutaneous branch that will become the sural nerve. The sural nerve is joined by fibres from the common fibular nerve and runs down the calf to supply the lateral side of the foot.

Below the soleus muscle the nerve lies close to the tibia and supplies the tibialis posterior, the flexor digitorum longus and the flexor hallucis longus. The nerve passes into the foot running posterior to the medial malleolus. Here it is bound down by the flexor retinaculum in company with the posterior tibial artery.

Branches

In the foot, the nerve divides into medial and lateral plantar branches.

Medial plantar nerve

The medial plantar nerve supplies: the abductor hallucis, the flexor digitorum brevis, the flexor hallucis brevis and the first lumbrical. Cutaneous distribution of the medial plantar nerve is to the medial sole and medial three and one half toes, including the nail beds on the dorsum (like the median nerve in the hand). Mnemonic LAFF muscles (pronounced "laugh") L-first Lumberical, A- Abductor Hallucis, F- Flexor digitorum brevis, F- flexor hallucis brevis

Lateral plantar nerve

The lateral plantar nerve supplies quadratus plantae, flexor digiti minimi, adductor hallucis, the interossei, three lumbricals. and abductor digiti minimi. Cutaneous innervation is to the lateral sole and lateral one and one half toes (like the ulnar nerve).

Additional images

Cross-section through middle of leg.

Cutaneous nerves of the right lower extremity. Front and posterior views.

Diagram of the segmental distribution of the cutaneous nerves of the sole of the foot.

External links

• Duke Orthopedics tibial_nerve
• Image - upper, at comcast.net
• Image - lower, at southfloridasportsmedicine.com