Superficial peroneal nerve

Last revised by Craig Hacking ◉ ◈ on 11 Oct 2022

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Knipe H, Hacking C, Gaillard F, et al. Superficial peroneal nerve. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 28 Sep 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-24727

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-24727

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/24727

rID:

24727

Article created:

7 Sep 2013, Henry Knipe ◉ ◈

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Henry Knipe had no recorded disclosures.

View Henry Knipe's current disclosures

Last revised:

11 Oct 2022, Craig Hacking ◉ ◈

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Craig Hacking had the following disclosures:

Philips Australia, Paid speaker at Philips Spectral CT events (ongoing)

These were assessed during peer review and were determined to not be relevant to the changes that were made.

View Craig Hacking's current disclosures

Revisions:

14 times, by 6 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Musculoskeletal

Sections:

Anatomy

Tags:

refs, cases, nerve

Synonyms:

Superficial fibular nerve

The superficial peroneal nerve, also known as superficial fibular nerve, is one of two terminal branches of the common peroneal nerve.

Summary

origin: arises as a terminal branch of the common peroneal nerve in the lateral compartment of the leg
course: passes between peroneus longus muscle and the fibula proximally and peroneus brevis muscle distally
motor supply: peroneus longus and peroneus brevis muscles
sensory supply: distal anterior leg and dorsal foot

Gross anatomy

Origin

Arises as one of two terminal branches of the common peroneal nerve deep to peroneus longus muscle.

Course

Courses anteriorly and inferiorly over the lateral surface of the upper fibula between peroneus longus and brevis muscles. It continues inferiorly on the peroneus brevis and extensor digitorum longus muscles before piercing the deep fascia between one half and two thirds down the length of the leg. Now subcutaneous, it divides into two terminal sensory cutaneous branches above the ankle which descend superficial to the lateral retinaculum of the ankle.

Branches and supply

muscular twigs to the muscles of the lateral compartment of the leg
- peroneus brevis muscle
- peroneus longus muscle
terminal cutaneous sensory branches
- medial cutaneous branch (larger, supplies the medial dorsal skin of the foot)
- lateral cutaneous branch (smaller, supplies the medial dorsal skin of the foot)