Dorsal digital branches of superficial fibular nerve
Rami digitales dorsales nervi fibularis superficialis
Sensory nerves on the top of the foot that carry feeling from the dorsal skin of most of the toes, up to the last phalanges.
At a glance
- English
- Dorsal digital branches of superficial fibular nerve
- Latin (TA2)
- Rami digitales dorsales nervi fibularis superficialis
- System
- Nerve
- Region
- Lower limb
- Side
- Paired, left and right
About the dorsal digital branches of superficial fibular nerve
The superficial fibular nerve supplies the lateral compartment of the leg and then becomes a purely sensory nerve. In the lower third of the leg it pierces the deep fascia and divides into the medial and intermediate dorsal cutaneous nerves, which cross the front of the ankle in the subcutaneous tissue. On the dorsum of the foot each of these gives rise to dorsal digital branches.
The medial dorsal cutaneous nerve sends one branch along the medial side of the big toe and another that divides to supply the facing sides of the second and third toes. The intermediate dorsal cutaneous nerve divides to supply the facing sides of the third and fourth toes and of the fourth and fifth toes. Two areas are left to other nerves: the first web space belongs to the deep fibular nerve, and the lateral side of the little toe to the sural nerve. The branches stop short of the distal phalanges, whose dorsal skin and nail beds are supplied by plantar digital nerves curling up from the sole.
Along the way the branches communicate with the dorsal digital branches of the deep fibular nerve and with the sural nerve, so the boundaries between territories vary. Their fibres arise mainly from the fourth and fifth lumbar and first sacral roots through the common fibular nerve.
Because the nerves lie just under the skin, they are easily injured. The intermediate branch can often be seen or felt in front of the ankle when the foot is plantarflexed and inverted, and surgeons mark it before placing ankle arthroscopy portals. Tight boots, ankle sprains and incisions on the dorsum can cause numbness or painful neuroma over the toes.
Course and supply
- Arises from
- Medial and intermediate dorsal cutaneous nerves, the two end divisions of the superficial fibular nerve; fibres from L4 to S1.
- Ends in
- Dorsal skin of the toes, except the first web space, the lateral side of the little toe and the distal phalanges.
- Supplies
- Sensory to the dorsal skin of the toes and adjacent dorsum of the foot.
Anthromica
See the dorsal digital branches of superficial fibular nerve where it really sits, with every layer of the body around it.
- Every layer, one body. Peel from muscle to bone, nerve, vessel and organ, and turn it any way.
- English and Latin. Every structure named the way your exam names it.
- Quiz until it sticks. Short drills on the structures you keep missing.
Free to start. No card.
