Common Plantar Digital Branches of Lateral Plantar Nerve (Left)
Rami digitales plantares communes nervi plantaris lateralis
Read moreQuick Facts
Origin: Superficial branch of the lateral plantar nerve.
Course: Extend distally, from the bases of the metatarsals towards the digits.
Branches: Proper plantar digital nerves.
Supply: Motor innervation to the flexor digiti minimi muscle and the interossei of the fourth intermetatarsal space; Sensory innervation to the lateral aspect of the foot and the skin of the little toe and lateral side of the fourth toe.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
The common plantar digital branches arise from the superficial branch of the lateral plantar nerve, near the bases of the metatarsal bones. There are usually two common plantar nerves.
Course
From the bases of the metatarsals, the lateral-most common plantar digital nerve branch distally, towards the lateral aspect of the little toe. The medial-most common plantar digital branch extends towards the fourth intermetatarsal space.
Branches
The medial-most common plantar digital branch of the lateral plantar nerve gives rise to two proper plantar digital branches, while the lateral-most continues as one proper plantar digital branch.
Supplied Structures
The common plantar digital branches supply sensory innervation for lateral plantar surface of the foot, the little toe and the adjacent aspect of the fourth digit. Additionally, they send motor innervation to the flexor digiti minimi muscle and the interossei of the fourth intermetatarsal space (Standring, 2016).
List of Clinical Correlates
—Morton’s neuroma
References
Standring, S. (2016) Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. Gray's Anatomy Series 41st edn.: Elsevier Limited.
Learn more about this topic from other Elsevier products
Lateral Plantar Nerve
The lateral plantar nerve is often compared to the ulnar nerve in that it supplies motor branches to the remaining muscles of the lateral plantar aspect of the foot and cutaneous innervation to the lateral one-third of the plantar aspect of the foot.
