Nervus fibularis communis

Nervus Fibularis Communis

The Nervus Fibularis Communis, also known as the common fibular nerve, is a major nerve in the lower limb. It is one of the two terminal branches of the sciatic nerve, along with the tibial nerve. The common fibular nerve innervates several muscles in the leg and provides sensory innervation to the skin of the lower leg and foot.

Anatomy

The common fibular nerve arises from the sacral plexus, specifically from the ventral rami of the fourth and fifth lumbar nerves (L4-L5) and the first and second sacral nerves (S1-S2). It descends along the posterior aspect of the thigh, passing through the popliteal fossa, and then divides into two branches: the superficial fibular nerve and the deep fibular nerve.

The superficial fibular nerve continues its course along the lateral aspect of the leg, supplying motor innervation to the muscles of the lateral compartment of the leg, including the fibularis longus and fibularis brevis muscles. It also provides sensory innervation to the skin on the dorsum of the foot and the lateral aspect of the lower leg.

The deep fibular nerve travels anteriorly, passing between the fibularis longus and tibialis anterior muscles. It innervates the muscles of the anterior compartment of the leg, including the tibialis anterior, extensor hallucis longus, extensor digitorum longus, and fibularis tertius muscles. Additionally, it provides sensory innervation to the skin between the first and second toes.

Clinical Significance

Injury or compression of the common fibular nerve can result in various symptoms and conditions. Common causes of nerve damage include trauma, compression due to tight footwear or prolonged leg crossing, and nerve entrapment syndromes such as peroneal nerve entrapment or peroneal neuropathy.

Symptoms of common fibular nerve dysfunction may include foot drop, weakness or paralysis of the muscles in the anterior and lateral compartments of the leg, sensory loss on the dorsum of the foot and the lateral aspect of the lower leg, and difficulty in dorsiflexion and eversion of the foot.

Treatment options for common fibular nerve injuries depend on the underlying cause and severity of the condition. Conservative management may involve rest, physical therapy, and the use of assistive devices such as braces or orthotics. In more severe cases, surgical intervention may be necessary to decompress or repair the damaged nerve.

See Also

• Sciatic Nerve
• Tibial Nerve
• Peripheral Nervous System