SUPEKFICIAL PEKONEAL NEKVE. 



731 



2. Terminal Branches (on the foot). The terminal branches are medial and 

 lateral. The medial branch passes along the dorsum of the foot, on the lateral 

 side of the dorsalis pedis artery, to the first interosseous space, where it divides 

 into two dorsal digital branches for the supply of the skin of the lateral side of 

 the great toe and the medial side of the second toe (nervi digitales dorsales, 

 hallucis lateralis et digiti secundi medialis). Each of these branches communicates 

 with branches of the superficial peroneal (O.T. musculo-cutaneous) nerve. It 

 gives off one or two dorsal interosseous branches, which supply the medial tarso- 

 metatarsal and metatarso-phalangeal articulations, and enter the first dorsal 

 interosseous muscle. 



The lateral branch, passes obliquely over the tarsus under cover of the extensor 

 digitorum brevis, and ends in a gangliforin enlargement (similar to the gangliform 

 enlargement on the dorsal interosseous nerve of the forearm at the back of the 

 wrist). From this enlargement muscular branches arise for the supply of the 

 extensor digitorum brevis, along with branches for the tarsal, tarso-metatarsal, 

 and metatarso-phalangeal articulations. Its dorsal interosseous branches may be 

 as many as four in number. Of these the lateral two, extremely small, may only 

 reach the tarso-metatarsal articulations. The medial two are fine branches, which, 

 besides supplying the articulations, may give branches to 

 the second and third dorsal interosseous muscles. 



The branches from the nerve to the interosseous 

 muscles are probably sensory, the motor supply of these 

 muscles being certainly derived from the lateral plantar 



nerve. 



NERVUS PERON^IUS SUPERFICIALIS. 



The superficial peroneal nerve (O.T. musculo- 

 cutaneous), the last of the branches of the common 

 peroneal nerve, passes distal to the head of the fibula and 

 under cover of the proximal fibres of the peronseus longus 

 muscle. Lying in a sheath in the intermuscular septum, 

 between the peronsei and the extensor digitorum longus, 

 it proceeds distally in front of the fibula to the distal 

 third of the leg, where it pierces the deep fascia in two 

 branches, medial and lateral. 



Its branches are : (1) collateral muscular branches dis- 

 tributed to the peronaeus longus and peronseus brevis, as 

 the nerve lies in relation to these muscles ; (2) terminal 

 cutaneous branches, medial and lateral. 



Nn. Cutanei Dorsales Medialis et Intermedius. 

 The medial terminal branch (n. cutaneus dorsalis medialis) 

 courses distally over the transverse ligament of the leg, and 

 after supplying offsets to the distal third of the leg and to the 

 dorsum of the foot, divides into three branches. (1) The 

 most medial branch supplies the skin of the dorsum of the 

 foot and the medial side of the great toe, and communicates 

 with the saphenous nerve. (2) The intermediate branch 

 passes to the interval between the great toe and the second, 

 and divides into two branches which communicate with 

 the medial branch of the deep peroneal nerve. (3) The 

 lateral branch passes to the interval between the second 

 and third toes, and divides into dorsal digital branches to 

 supply the adjacent sides of these toes. 



The lateral terminal branch (n. cutaneus dorsalis intermedius) of the nerve passes 

 over the transverse ligament of the leg, and after supplying branches to the distal 

 part of the leg and to the dorsum of the foot, divides into two parts, which, passing 

 to the intervals between the third and fourth, and fourth and fifth toes respectively, 

 divide into dorsal digital branches for the adjacent sides of these toes. These 

 branches communicate with offsets of the nervus suralis (nerve of the calf). 



E.P 



FIG. 628. DISTRIBUTION OF 

 CUTANEOUS NERVES ON THE 

 DORSUM OF THE FOOT. 



I.S, Saphenous nerve ; M.C, 

 Superficial peroneal nerve ; 

 A.T, Deep peroneal nerve ; 

 E.S, Nervus suralis. The 

 extremities of the toes are 

 supplied by the medial 

 and lateral plantar nerves 

 (I.P, E.P). 



