Structures of the anterior leg Flashcards
What is the smaller branch of the sciatic nerve?
Common fibular nerve
What structure does the common fibular nerve wrap around?
The neck of the fibula
Into what two structures does the common fibular nerve divide?
superficial and deep fibular nerves
What are the branches of the common fibular nerve?
- Sural communicating: joins sural branch of tibial nerve
- lateral sural cutaneous: supplies skin on proximal, lateral , posterior leg
- articular: to the knee
What nerve is the most commonly injured nerve in the lower extremity?
common fibular nerve (its superficial and wraps around fibula)
How may the common fibular nerve be damaged?
- Compression
- Traction
- Lacerations
Examples: casts, fractures, prolonged kneeling/squatting, kneeling with crossed legs, injury to knee joint
What clinical symptoms may be seen with common fibular nerve damage? (5)
- foot drop (loss of dorsal flexion)
- loss of eversion
- loss of extension
- diminished inversion
- loss of sensation on foot dorsum and lateral leg
What nerve is the medial terminal branch of the common fibular nerve?
deep fibular nerve
Where does the deep fibular nerve begin? end?
begins at the neck of the fibula
descends with anterior tibial artery
terminates at the front of the ankle
What structure accompanies the deep fibular nerve?
anterior tibial artery
What are the branches of the deep fibular nerve?
muscular: anterior compartment of leg and dorsum of foot
articular: inferior tibiofibular and ankle joints
cutaneous: webspace between first and second digits
What is ski boot syndrome?
compression neuropathy of the deep fibular nerve (at ankle)
What causes ski boot syndrome?
tight fitting boots or shoes
What are clinical signs of ski boot syndrome?
- loss of dorsal flexion and extension of toes
2. loss of sensation of skin and webbed spaces between digits one and two
The anterior tibial artery descends along with what structure?
deep fibular nerve
