Medial and Lateral Plantar Nerves Flashcards
Two terminal branches of tibial nerve
- Medial plantar nerve
- Lateral plantar nerve
General information on medial plantar nerve
- Largest of the two terminal branches of the tibial nerve in the foot
- Passes DEEP to the flexor retinaculum
- Passes DEEP to the abductor hallucis m. (1st layer)
Branches of the medial plantar nerve
BEFORE the medial plantar nerve terminates, it gives off 2 muscular branches:
- Muscular branch to abductor hallucis
- Muscular branch to flexor digitorum brevis
NEXT, the medial plantar nerve gives of the 1st proper plantar digital nerve
- This branch is given off BETWEEN the two muscles of the 1st layer (abductor hallucis and flexor digitorum brevis)
- Before supplying the medial aspect of the 1st digit, the 1st proper plantar digital nerve gives off a muscular branch to flexor hallucis brevis
Termination of the medial plantar nerve
The medial plantar nerve now TERMINATES by providing 3 common plantar digital nerves
- 1st common plantar digital nerve
- 2nd common plantar digital nerve
- 3rd common plantar digital nerve
1st common plantar digital nerve
- Before supplying the 1st interspace with the 2nd and 3rd proper plantar digital nerves, the 1st common plantar digital nerve gives off a muscular branch to the 1st lumbrical
- It then goes on to supply the MPJ and IPJ with articular branches
- Then supplies the dorsum of the foot around the nail with sensory innervation
2nd common plantar digital nerve
- Supplies 2nd interspace
- Gives off 4th and 5th proper plantar digital nerves
- Gives off articular branches to supply the MPJ and IPJ
- Gives off sensory branches for the dorsum of teh foot and structures around the nail
3rd common plantar digital nerve
- Supplies the 3rd interspace
- Gives off 6th and 7th proper plantar digital nerves
- Gives off articular branches to supply the MPJ and IPJ
- Gives off sensory branches for dorsum of the foot and structures around the nail
- ALSO… Communicates with lateral plantar nerve
The medial plantar nerve supplies which 4 muscles?
- Abductor hallucis m.
- Flexor digitorum brevis m.
- Flexor hallucis brevis m.
- 1st lumbrical m.
General information on lateral plantar nerve
- Smaller terminal branch of the tibial nerve
- Runs between 1st and 2nd layer of muscles in the foot
- Accompanies the lateral plantar artery
- Gets to lateral side of foot by going in between the flexor digitorum brevis (of the 1st layer) and the quadratus plantae (of the 2nd layer)
Branches of the lateral plantar nerve
- BEFORE division, the lateral plantar nerve gives of 2 (maybe 3) muscular branches
- Muscular branch to the quadratus plantae (2nd layer)
- Muscular branch to the abductor digiti minimi (1st layer)
- Possibly a 3rd muscular branch to abductor os metatarsi digiti minimi
Division of lateral plantar nerve
- Between the flexor digitorum brevis and abductor digiti minimi, the lateral plantar nerve divides into superficial and deep branches
Superficial branch of lateral plantar nerve
- Divides into a medial and lateral part (unnamed)
- The two parts will eventually become the 10th proper plantar digital nerve (lateral) and the 4th common plantar digital nerve (medial)
- First they will give off muscular branches
Lateral portion of superficial branch
Gives off 1 muscular branch
- Muscular branch to flexor digiti minimi brevis
Medial portion of superficial branch
Gives off 2 muscular branches
- Muscular branch to 3rd plantar interossei
- Muscular branch to 4th dorsal interossei
These are muscles of the 4th interspace
Deep branch of lateral plantar nerve
- Accompanies lateral plantar artery
- Passes DEEP to flexor digitorum longus tendons of the 2nd layer
- ONLY job of the deep branch of lateral plantar nerve is to give off muscular branches
