Lateral branch of deep fibular nerve

The lateral branch of the deep fibular nerve is the terminal motor branch of the deep fibular (peroneal) nerve in the foot. After the deep fibular nerve passes beneath the extensor retinaculum at the ankle, it typically bifurcates into a medial and a lateral branch of deep fibular nerve. The lateral branch of deep fibular nerve penetrates the deep surface of the extensor digitorum brevis (EDB) muscle, providing its primary motor innervation. It may also arborize into several smaller branches within the EDB and occasionally supply adjacent structures on the dorsum of the foot.

The lateral branch does not provide cutaneous sensory innervation; its function is predominantly motor, targeting the EDB and sometimes the extensor hallucis brevis. The medial branch, in contrast, is responsible for sensory supply to the first web space between the hallux and second toe.