Nervus fibularis

Nervus fibularis

The nervus fibularis, also known as the common fibular nerve or common peroneal nerve, is a branch of the sciatic nerve that provides motor and sensory innervation to parts of the lower leg. It is one of the major nerves of the lower limb and plays a crucial role in the movement and sensation of the leg and foot.

Anatomy

The nervus fibularis originates from the sciatic nerve in the posterior compartment of the thigh. It travels down the leg, wrapping around the neck of the fibula before dividing into two main branches: the superficial fibular nerve and the deep fibular nerve.

Branches

• Superficial fibular nerve: This branch innervates the muscles of the lateral compartment of the leg, including the fibularis longus and fibularis brevis. It also provides sensory innervation to the skin over the lower part of the leg and the dorsum of the foot.
• Deep fibular nerve: This branch innervates the muscles of the anterior compartment of the leg, including the tibialis anterior, extensor digitorum longus, and extensor hallucis longus. It also provides sensory innervation to the web space between the first and second toes.

Function

The nervus fibularis is responsible for the motor control of several muscles in the lower leg, which are essential for movements such as dorsiflexion and eversion of the foot. It also provides sensory feedback from the skin of the lower leg and foot, contributing to proprioception and balance.

Clinical Significance

Injury to the nervus fibularis can result in conditions such as foot drop, where the patient is unable to dorsiflex the foot, leading to difficulty in walking. Common causes of injury include trauma, compression, or prolonged pressure on the nerve.

Related Pages

• Sciatic nerve
• Superficial fibular nerve
• Deep fibular nerve
• Fibula
• Foot drop
• Dorsiflexion
• Eversion