Lateral dorsal cutaneous nerve of foot
Nervus cutaneus lateralis dorsalis pedis
- Latin synonym: Nervus cutaneus dorsalis lateralis
- Synonym: Lateral cutaneous nerve of dorsum of foot
- Related terms: Lateral dorsal cutaneous nerve
Definition
The lateral dorsal cutaneous nerve of the foot is the terminal branch of the sural nerve. It originates as the sural nerve passes posterior to the lateral malleolus, then continues distally along the lateral aspect of the foot. The nerve courses anteriorly and inferiorly, running superficial to the peroneus brevis tendon and close to the base of the fifth metatarsal. It provides cutaneous innervation to the lateral border of the foot and the lateral side of the fifth toe, with some anatomical variation in its distribution and possible communication with branches of the superficial fibular nerve by the communicating branch of lateral dorsal cutaneous nerve of foot with intermediate dorsal cutaneous nerve.
References
