Proper plantar digital branches of lateral plantar nerve

At a glance

English

Proper plantar digital branches of lateral plantar nerve

Latin (TA2)

Rami digitales plantares proprii nervi plantaris lateralis

System

Nerve

Region

Lower limb

Side

Paired, left and right

About the proper plantar digital branches of lateral plantar nerve

On the outer side of the sole the lateral plantar nerve gives off a superficial branch, which soon divides in two. One part runs straight to the outer edge of the fifth toe as a proper digital nerve. The other is a common digital nerve that heads for the fourth web space, exchanges fibres with the medial plantar nerve's third common digital nerve, and then splits into two more proper digital nerves for the facing surfaces of toes four and five. These three proper nerves are the lateral plantar nerve's endings in the toes.

Each proper digital nerve runs forwards along the plantar side of its toe, beside a plantar digital artery, giving fine filaments to the skin and the interphalangeal joints. Near the distal phalanx it sends a twig up onto the dorsum to supply the nail bed and surrounding skin, and the rest ends in the pulp of the toe tip. The nerve for the outer edge of the fifth toe also carries motor fibres to flexor digiti minimi brevis and often the interossei of the fourth space, given off before it reaches the toe.

The territory of these nerves, the lateral one and a half toes, matches the ulnar nerve's share of the fingers. Through the communication with the medial plantar nerve, the fourth toe can receive fibres from both plantar nerves, and the boundary between their territories varies between people.

Being small, superficial nerves on the side of the toes, they can be damaged by cuts, crushing, tight shoes or surgery on the outer toes, such as correction of a bunionette, leaving a numb strip along the toe. In diabetic and other peripheral neuropathies these long, thin endings are among the first to lose sensation, which is why monofilament testing of the toes is used to screen for nerve damage. Digital nerve blocks at the base of the toe anaesthetise them for nail and toe procedures.

Course and supply

Arises from

The lateral plantar nerve's superficial branch, directly and through its common digital nerve.

Ends in

End in the plantar skin, joints, pulp and nail beds of the outer edge of the fifth toe and the facing surfaces of toes four and five.

Supplies

Sensory to the plantar surface and nail beds of the lateral one and a half toes; the fifth toe's outer nerve also carries motor twigs to flexor digiti minimi brevis.