Sural nerve (S1–S2)
Terminal branches · S1 S2
Purely sensory nerve formed in the calf when the medial sural cutaneous nerve (tibial) is joined by the sural communicating branch from the lateral sural cutaneous nerve (common fibular). Descends with the small saphenous vein, passes behind the lateral malleolus and runs along the lateral border of the foot.
Traced from the start
Detail
- Motor
- None
- Sensory
- Posterolateral distal leg, lateral heel and ankle, lateral border of the foot and little toe
- Companion
- Small (short) saphenous vein
- Uses
- Standard site for diagnostic nerve biopsy (peripheral neuropathy, vasculitis) and for nerve grafts
When it goes wrong
Injury during small saphenous vein surgery, Achilles tendon repair or lateral ankle surgery; or deliberately excised for biopsy
Numbness of the lateral foot and little toe only, with no motor loss
Practise this structure
1 question in the bank tagged Sensory Territory.