N
Common Ground News

What does the lateral plantar nerve innervate?

Author

Matthew Cannon

Updated on March 19, 2026

What does the lateral plantar nerve innervate?

The lateral plantar nerve is an important motor nerve in the foot because it innervates all intrinsic muscles in the sole, except for the muscles supplied by the medial plantar nerve (abductor hallucis, flexor digitorum brevis, flexor hallucis brevis, and first lumbrical).

Similarly one may ask, what does the lateral plantar artery supply?

The lateral plantar artery gives off muscular branches, superficial branches, anastomotic branches and a calcaneal branch. The lateral plantar artery and its branches supply the adjoining muscles, and the skin and subcutaneous tissues on the lateral side of the sole.

Additionally, what does the medial plantar nerve innervate? The medial plantar nerve innervates the medial muscle group of the foot (except the adductor hallucis) and muscles of the middle group of the foot: the flexor digitorum brevis and the lumbricals.

Beside above, what is the lateral plantar nerve?

The lateral plantar nerve (external plantar nerve) is a branch of the tibial nerve, in turn a branch of the sciatic nerve and supplies the skin of the fifth toe and lateral half of the fourth, as well as most of the deep muscles, its distribution being similar to that of the ulnar nerve in the hand.

Which nerve splits into the lateral and medial plantar nerves which in turn supply the foot plant?

The tibial nerve continues its course down the leg, posterior to the tibia. During its descent, it supplies the deep muscles of the posterior leg. Immediately distal to the tarsal tunnel, the tibial nerve terminates by dividing into sensory branches, which innervate the sole of the foot.

What forms the plantar arch?

The arch is formed when the lateral plantar artery turns medially to the interval between the bases of the first and second metatarsal bones, where it unites with the deep plantar branch of the dorsalis pedis artery, thus completing the plantar arch (or deep plantar arch).

Where are metatarsal veins located?

The plantar metatarsal veins run backward in the metatarsal spaces, collect blood from digital veins and communicate, by means of perforating veins, with the veins on the dorsum of the foot, and unite to form the deep plantar venous arch which lies alongside the plantar arterial arch.

What arteries are in the foot?

Plantar arteries: The plantar arteries—lateral, medial, and deep—form a looping web of arteries across the foot and down through each toe. They eventually unite with the dorsalis pedis artery. Dorsalis pedis: This artery supplies blood to the surface of the foot as a continuation of the anterior tibial artery.

Where is the plantar artery?

The lateral plantar artery (also called external plantar artery, latin: arteria plantaris lateralis) is one of the terminal branches of the posterior tibial artery. This artery runs distally to the base of the fifth metatarsal bone, turns medially, reaching the interval between the first and second metatarsal bases.

Where is the dorsalis pedis?

In human anatomy, the dorsalis pedis artery (dorsal artery of foot), is a blood vessel of the lower limb that carries oxygenated blood to the dorsal surface of the foot. It is located 1/3 from medial malleolus. It arises at the anterior aspect of the ankle joint and is a continuation of the anterior tibial artery.

What does the medial plantar artery supply?

Medial plantar artery
branch of the posterior tibial artery. smaller caliber vessel. supplies the medial side of the foot, abductor hallucis muscle and flexor digitorum brevis muscle. provides the arterial digital supply to the big toe.

Where does the medial plantar nerve originate?

General Course of Nerve:
It arises under the flexor retinaculum and runs forward deep to the abductor hallucis with the medial plantar artery on its medial side. It comes to lie in the interval between the abductor hallucis and the flexor digitorum brevis.

Where does the dorsalis pedis artery come from?

In human anatomy, the dorsalis pedis artery (dorsal artery of foot), is a blood vessel of the lower limb that carries oxygenated blood to the dorsal surface of the foot. It is located 1/3 from medial malleolus. It arises at the anterior aspect of the ankle joint and is a continuation of the anterior tibial artery.

Why does my lateral plantar hurt?

Lateral foot pain happens on the outer edges of your feet. It can make standing, walking, or running painful. Several things can cause lateral foot pain, from exercising too much to birth defects. Until you figure out the underlying cause, it's best to let your foot rest to avoid any additional injuries.

How do I know if I have nerve damage in my foot?

Signs and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy might include:
  1. Gradual onset of numbness, prickling or tingling in your feet or hands, which can spread upward into your legs and arms.
  2. Sharp, jabbing, throbbing or burning pain.
  3. Extreme sensitivity to touch.

Why does my lateral plantar nerve hurt?

The lateral plantar nerve can become trapped, or compressed between the abductor hallucis muscle and the quadratus planus muscle along the inside of the foot. As a result, the compressed nerve causes pain. The lateral plantar nerve (lateral meaning outside).

How do you treat plantar nerve entrapment?

Conservative therapy consists of: a short course of oral anti-inflammatory medication; padding and offloading of the entrapment site; steroid injection therapy; stretching exercises; and physical therapy. Physical therapy is beneficial if the patient has concurrent entrapment of Baxter's nerve and plantar fasciitis.

How do you treat nerve entrapment?

Continued
  1. NSAIDs. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen may reduce swelling.
  2. Oral corticosteroids. These are used to reduce swelling and pain.
  3. Narcotics. These are used for brief periods to reduce severe pain.
  4. Steroid injections.
  5. Physical therapy.
  6. Splint.
  7. Surgery.

What is lateral plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is a disorder of the connective tissue which supports the arch of the foot. It results in pain in the heel and bottom of the foot that is usually most severe with the first steps of the day or following a period of rest.

What causes Baxter's nerve entrapment?

BACKGROUND: Baxter's neuropathy is a nerve entrapment syndrome that results from the compression of the inferior calcaneal nerve. The causes of Baxter's neuropathy include altered foot biomechanics such as flatfoot, plantar calcaneal enthesophytes, and plantar fasciitis.

Can you get nerve damage from plantar fasciitis?

Often mistaken for plantar fasciitis with heel spur syndrome, entrapment neuropathy of Baxter's nerve is a painful condition that can lead to chronic heel pain. The discomfort begins as an ache, progresses to a burning pain and eventually leads to numbness.

What causes nerve entrapment in the foot?

A nerve entrapment is frequently caused by trauma, such as pressure created by swelling,2? excess pressure from a tight shoe, or blunt trauma. Nerve entrapment may cause a shooting, burning pain, or sensitivity on the top of the foot.

What is the bottom of foot called?

The sole is the bottom of the foot. In humans the sole of the foot is anatomically referred to as the plantar aspect.

What causes medial plantar nerve entrapment?

Pathology/Injury. Medial plantar nerve entrapment: It is a compression of the nerve branches, where the nerve branches are compressed between bones, ligaments and other connective tissues causing a pain at the inner heel area.

What is the saphenous nerve?

The saphenous nerve (long or internal saphenous nerve) is the largest cutaneous branch of the femoral nerve. It is a strictly sensory nerve, and has no motor function.

Where is the Baxter nerve?

The Inferior Calcaneal Nerve is the first branch of the Lateral Plantar Nerve on the bottom surface of the foot. The nerve is also sometimes called Baxter's nerve, named after the first physician to describe this nerve entrapment as a specific cause of foot pain.

What nerve Innervates the bottom of the foot?

The tibial nerve from the sciatic nerve provides sensory innervation to the skin of the sole and toes, and the dorsal aspect of the toes. It provides motor innervation to plantaris, tibialis posterior, flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus as well as posterior muscles in the leg.

What is Lesion of plantar nerve?

Specialty. Neurology. Morton's neuroma is a benign neuroma of an intermetatarsal plantar nerve, most commonly of the second and third intermetatarsal spaces (between the second/third and third/fourth metatarsal heads), which results in the entrapment of the affected nerve.

What nerve is in the big toe?

The deep peroneal nerve is responsible for lifting up the toe and ankle. It also affects feeling in the skin between the big toe and second toe, but this is the only area of skin it affects.

What muscles does the tibial nerve innervate?

The tibial nerve is one of two main muscular branches of the sciatic nerve that innervates the triceps surae, plantaris, popliteus, tibialis posterior, flexor digitorum longus and flexor hallucis longus muscles.

What does the deep fibular nerve innervate?

The deep fibular nerve innervates the muscles in the anterior compartment of the leg, including: Tibialis anterior. Extensor hallucis longus. Extensor digitorum longus.

Which nerve roots supply the foot and toes?

The L5 nerve supplies the nerves to the muscles that raise the foot and big toe, and consequently, impingement of this nerve may lead to weakness in these muscles.

Which nerves go to the feet?

The peroneal nerve is a branch of the sciatic nerve, which supplies movement and sensation to the lower leg, foot and toes. Common peroneal nerve dysfunction is a type of peripheral neuropathy (damage to nerves outside the brain or spinal cord). This condition can affect people of any age.

What nerve roots drop feet?

Because the tibialis anterior muscle is innervated from the L4-S1 roots, especially the L5 and to a lesser extent L4 root, through the sciatic and ultimately the deep peroneal nerves, a lesion in any of these can cause foot drop. The toe extensors are primarily innervated from L5, with some contribution from S1.

What happens if the tibial nerve is damaged?

Tibial nerve dysfunction occurs when there is damage to the tibial nerve. Symptoms can include numbness, pain, tingling, and weakness of the knee or foot. The tibial nerve is commonly injured by fractures or other injury to the back of the knee or the lower leg.

What does the common peroneal nerve innervate?

The common fibular nerve innervates the short head of the biceps femoris muscle (part of the hamstring muscles, which flex at the knee).

What causes foot drop?

Foot drop is caused by weakness or paralysis of the muscles involved in lifting the front part of the foot. Causes of foot drop might include: Nerve injury. The most common cause of foot drop is compression of a nerve in your leg that controls the muscles involved in lifting the foot (peroneal nerve).