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AnatomyLower limbNerves and vesselsCommon fibular (peroneal) nerve
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AnatomyLower limbNerves and vesselsCommon fibular (peroneal) nerve

Common fibular (peroneal) nerve

Author: Roberto Grujičić, MD • Reviewer: Edwin Ocran, MBChB, MSc
Last reviewed: October 30, 2023
Reading time: 8 minutes

Recommended video: Sciatic nerve and its branches [14:08]
Anatomy, course, function and clinical significance of the sciatic nerve.
Common fibular nerve
Nervus fibularis communis
Synonyms: Common peroneal nerve, Nervus peroneus communis

The common fibular (peroneal) nerve (L4-S2) is a short, thin nerve located in the posterior compartment of the lower extremity. It arises as a terminal branch of the sciatic nerve around the apex of the popliteal fossa.

The common fibular (peroneal) nerve courses inferolaterally through the popliteal fossa, towards the head of the fibula. When it reaches the anterior compartment of the leg (underneath the fibularis longus muscle), the nerve divides into the superficial fibular (peroneal) nerve and deep fibular (peroneal) nerve.

The superficial fibular (peroneal) nerve supplies the muscles of the lateral compartment of the leg and provides sensation to the anterolateral aspect of the leg. The deep fibular (peroneal) nerve, on the other hand, mainly supplies the muscles of the anterior compartment of the leg and the dorsum of the foot.

This article will discuss the anatomy and function of the common fibular (peroneal) nerve.

Key facts about the common fibular (peroneal) nerve
Origin Sciatic nerve; root value (L4-S2)
Branches Articular branches, lateral sural cutaneous nerve, sural communicating branch, superficial fibular nerve, deep fibular nerve
Supply Motor: Anterior leg muscles (tibialis anterior, extensor hallucis longus, extensor digitorum longus); lateral leg muscles (fibularis longus, fibularis brevis); dorsal foot muscles (extensor digitorum brevis, extensor hallucis brevis)
Sensory: Skin of anterolateral leg and dorsum of foot, skin of web space between great and 2nd toes
Contents
  1. Origin and course
  2. Superficial fibular (peroneal) nerve
  3. Deep fibular (peroneal) nerve
  4. Innervation
    1. Motor innervation
    2. Sensory innervation
  5. Clinical relations
    1. "Foot drop"
  6. Sources
+ Show all

Origin and course

Common fibular division of sciatic nerve
Divisio fibularis communis nervi ischiadici
1/3
Synonyms: Posterior root of sciatic nerve, Common peroneal division of sciatic nerve , show more...

The common fibular (peroneal) nerve (root value L4-S2) is the smaller of two terminal branches of the sciatic nerve, the other being the tibial nerve. The common fibular (peroneal) nerve contains mainly fibers derived from the posterior division of the sacral plexus.

The nerve arises from the sciatic nerve at the distal third of the thigh, near the apex of the popliteal fossa. It then traverses the popliteal fossa inferolaterally, towards the fibular head. In the fossa, it is positioned medially to the tendon of the biceps femoris muscle, and lateral to the gastrocnemius muscle. The nerve then pierces the fascia of the leg to enter the anterior compartment of the leg. The common fibular nerve wraps around the fibular neck. Then, the nerve terminates by dividing into two terminal branches, the superficial and deep fibular (peroneal) nerves, underneath the fibularis longus muscle.

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Superficial fibular (peroneal) nerve

Superficial fibular nerve
Nervus fibularis superficialis
1/4
Synonyms: Superficial peroneal nerve, Nervus peroneus superficialis

The superficial branch of the common peroneal nerve, also known as the superficial fibular (peroneal) nerve, arises at the bifurcation of the common peroneal nerve, between the fibula and the proximal part of fibularis longus muscle.

This nerve then descends deep to the fibularis longus muscle. It pierces the deep fascia in the distal third of the leg and subsequently divides into the medial dorsal cutaneous nerve and the intermediate dorsal cutaneous nerve. The superficial fibular (peroneal) nerve provides the motor supply to the fibularis longus and fibularis brevis muscles, and sensory supply to the skin of the lower anterolateral aspect of the leg.

Deep fibular (peroneal) nerve

Deep fibular nerve
Nervus fibularis profundus
1/3
Synonyms: Deep peroneal nerve, Nervus peroneus profundus

The deep branch of the fibular nerve, also known as the deep fibular (peroneal) nerve, arises from the bifurcation of the common fibular nerve as well. This nerve runs through the interosseous membrane to enter the extensor (anterior) compartment of the leg for which it provides innervation.

The nerve then descends between the tibialis anterior and extensor hallucis longus on the crural interosseous membrane, accompanied by the anterior tibial artery. The deep fibular nerve terminates by dividing into lateral and medial terminal branches.

Innervation

The common fibular nerve is a mixed nerve that carries motor and sensory fibers for the innervation of the muscles and skin of the leg and foot. Additionally, it provides the articular branches that innervate the ankle joint, tarsal and metatarsophalangeal joints.

Motor innervation

The common fibular nerve is responsible for the motor innervation of the muscles in the anterior and lateral compartments of the leg. The anterior compartment consists of muscles responsible for dorsiflexion of the foot and includes the tibialis anterior, extensor hallucis longus, and extensor digitorum longus muscles. The anterior compartment is supplied by the deep branch of the common peroneal nerve. The lateral compartment of the leg is formed by the muscles responsible for the eversion of the foot and includes the fibularis longus and fibularis brevis muscles. This compartment is supplied by the superficial branch of the common fibular nerve.

Sensory innervation

The common fibular nerve provides sensory supply for the skin of the lower anterolateral aspect of the leg and most of the dorsum of foot.

More specifically, the superficial branch provides sensory supply to the anterolateral aspect of the leg, extending from midway down the leg to the majority of the dorsal aspect of the foot and toes. The deep branch innervates a portion of the skin between the first and second toes.

It is important to note that the common fibular nerve gives off a small sensory branch, the lateral sural cutaneous nerve, which provides sensation inferolaterally to the knee. This branch terminates by uniting with the medial sural cutaneous nerve (from the tibial nerve) to form the sural nerve that innervates the skin of the lateral foot and lateral lower ankle.

Sciatic nerve and its branches Explore study unit

Clinical relations

"Foot drop"

Injuries to the common fibular nerve are not uncommon due to the fact that this nerve is relatively unprotected. Its close proximity to the neck of the fibula makes it vulnerable to damage when the bone gets injured. The nerve can also be damaged due to compression caused by swelling or inflammation in the fibular compartment of the leg.

The most prominent clinical presentation of the common fibular nerve injury is a "foot drop". It ranges from the weakness of the dorsiflexion and toe extension to the complete paralysis and inability to dorsiflex and evert the foot. This is due to loss of motor innervation to the anterior extensors of the foot. The main sensory symptom is the loss of sensation in the dorsum of the foot and the first dorsal webspace. The diagnosis is usually established by physical examination and confirmed by electrodiagnostic tools.

Sources

All content published on Kenhub is reviewed by medical and anatomy experts. The information we provide is grounded on academic literature and peer-reviewed research. Kenhub does not provide medical advice. You can learn more about our content creation and review standards by reading our content quality guidelines.

References:

  • Standring, S. (2016). Gray's Anatomy (41st ed.). Edinburgh: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.
  • Netter, F. (2019). Atlas of Human Anatomy (7th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Saunders.
  • Moore, K. L., Dalley, A. F., & Agur, A. M. R. (2014). Clinically Oriented Anatomy (7th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
  • Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD). National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. 2011.

Illustrators:

  • Common fibular nerve (posterior view) - Irina Münstermann
  • Sciatic nerve (posterior view) - Liene Znotina
  • Common fibular nerve and popliteal fossa (posterior view) - Liene Znotina
  • Roots of the common fibular nerve - Begonia Rodriguez

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