It’s a terminal branch of thecommon peroneal nerve, a branch of thesciatic nerve.
The deep peroneal nerve contains both motor and sensory fibers.
Anatomy
All of your nerves, except thecranial nerves, branch off the spinal cord.
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The nerves that extend away from the spine and into the limbs are called peripheral nerves.
The sciaticnerve’s rootsleave the spinal cord between the vertebrae in your lower back’s lumbar and sacral regions.
It runs downward along theanterior tibial artery.
It crosses the ankle joint downward and then divides into its terminal branches along the top of the foot.
Motor Function
The deep fibular nerve innervates the four muscles in the calf.
The deep peroneal nerve pulls the foot backthe opposite motion of pointing the toes.
This motion, which is called dorsiflexion, is essential for walking.
Dorsiflexion is required when your heel strikes the floor while your leg is swinging forward.
It transmits information about temperature and sensation from the skin between your big toe and second toe.
Associated Conditions
The primary condition associated with the deep peroneal nerve is foot drop.
It is the most common mononeuropathy (damage to a single nerve) of the legs.
Foot drop is a loss of the ability to dorsiflex the foot due to nerve entrapment or compression.
This can happen at any point along the nerve’s journey down the calf or into the foot.
As well, the nerve may be damaged during knee surgery.
In some cases, it may not be treatable, and the associated pain and disability will be permanent.
2017 Sep;159(9):1777-1781. doi:10.1007/s00701-017-3265-2.
Neuromuscular Disease Center, Washington University.Common peroneal nerve.
Ortho Bullets.Deep peroneal nerve.
TeachMeAnatomy.The deep fibular nerve.
