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Tibial nerve
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The tibial nerve is a branch of the sciatic nerve. The tibial nerve passes through the popliteal fossa to
pass below the arch of soleus.

Contents Tibial nerve

Structure
Popliteal fossa

Back of the leg

Foot

Clinical significance

Additional images

References

External links

Structure

Popliteal fossa
Plan of sacral and pudendal plexuses (Tibial nerve
The tibial nerve is the larger terminal branch of
labelled at centre left)
the sciatic nerve with root values of L4, L5, S1,
S2, and S3. It lies superficial (or posterior) to
the popliteal vessels, extending from the
superior angle to the inferior angle of the
popliteal fossa, crossing the popliteal vessels
from lateral to medial side. It gives off
branches as shown below:[1]

Muscular branches - Muscular branches arise

from the distal part of the popliteal fossa. It
supplies the medial and lateral heads of
gastrocnemius, soleus, plantaris and popliteus
muscles. Nerve to popliteus crosses the
popliteus muscle, runs downwards and
laterally, winds around the lower border of the
popliteus to supply the deep (or anterior)
surface of the popliteus. This nerve also
supplies the tibialis posterior muscle, superior
tibiofibular joint, tibia bone, interosseous
membrane of leg, and the inferior tibiofibular
joint.[1]

Cutaneous branches - Tibial nerve also gives

off a cutaneous nerve called the medial sural
cutaneous nerve from the middle of the
popliteal fossa and exits at the inferior angle. It
supplies the skin of the lower half of the back
of the leg and lateral border of the foot until the
tip of the little toe.[1]

Articular branches - There are three articular

branches arises from the upper part of the
fossa: superior medial genicular nerve (located
on the surface of medial condyle of femur,
middle genicular nerve (pierces the posterior
capsule of the knee joint to supply the
structures located in the intercondylar notch of
the femur, and inferior genicular nerve (runs Nerves of the right lower extremity. Posterior view.
along the upper border of the popliteus to
Details
reach the medial condyle of tibia).[1]

Back of the leg From sacral plexus via sciatic

nerve
At the inferior angle of the popliteal fossa, tibial
To medial plantar nerve,
nerve passes deep to the tendinous arch of
lateral plantar nerve
soleus to enter the back of the leg. In the leg, it
runs downwards and medially to reach the Innervates Origin: flexor digitorum
posteromedial side of the ankle, midway longus, flexor hallucis
between the medial malleolus and medial longus
tubercle of the calcaneum. It terminates deep Anterior:
to the flexor retinaculum at the origin of the semimembranosus,

abductor hallucis by dividing into medial and semitendinosus, long

head of biceps femoris
lateral plantar nerves to supply the foot. The
Medial: abductor
tibial nerve gives off several branches to
hallucis, flexor digitorum
supply the back of the leg:[1]
brevis, flexor hallucis
brevis, first lumbrical
Muscular branches - Supplies tibialis posterior,
Lateral: quadratus
flexor digitorum longus, flexor hallucis longus,
plantae, flexor digiti
and deep part of soleus.[1] minimi, adductor

Cutaneus branches - The medial calcaneal hallucis, the interossei,

three lumbricals. and
nerve pierces the flexor retinaculum to supply
abductor digiti minimi
the skin of the back and lower surface of the
heel.[1] Identifiers

Articular branches - Supplies the ankle joint[1] Latin nervus tibialis

Foot
MeSH D013979

In the foot, the nerve terminates by dividing

TA98 A14.2.07.058
into medial and lateral plantar branches.
TA2 6582
Medial plantar nerve - It is the larger terminal
branch of the tibial nerve. It passes between FMA 19035
the abductor hallucis and flexor digitorum
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy
brevis to divide further into branches. Its
[edit on Wikidata]
distribution resembles to that of the
distribution of median nerve in the hand. Its
muscular branches supply the abductor hallucis, the flexor digitorum brevis, the flexor hallucis brevis and
the first lumbrical. Cutaneous distribution of the medial plantar nerve supplies the medial sole and medial
three and one half toes through four digital branches. Each digital branch give off a dorsal branch to
supply the nail beds on the dorsum. This nerve also gives off articular branches to supply the bones of
the tarsus and metatarsus.[1]

Lateral plantar nerve - It is the smaller terminal branch of the tibial nerve. It courses laterally and forward
until the base of fifth metatarsal bone, where it divides into superficial and deep branches. Its distribution
resembles to the distribution of ulnar nerve in the hand. The main trunk of the nerve supplies two
muscles: flexor digitorum accessorius and abductor digiti minimi. This nerve also supplies the skin of the
sole.[1] The superficial branch is divided into medial and lateral branches. The lateral branch supplies
three muscles: flexor digiti minimi, 3rd and 4th interossei, and the skin over the lateral side of the toe. The
medial branch communicates with the medial plantar nerve and supplies the skin over the fourth
interdigital cleft.[1] The deep branch supplies the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th lumbricals, first and second plantar
interossei and adductor hallucis.[1]

Clinical significance

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Damage to the tibial nerve is rare, and is often a result of direct trauma, entrapment through narrow
space or compression for long period of time. Damage results in loss of plantar flexion, loss of flexion
of toes and weakened inversion (The tibialis anterior can still invert the foot).

Additional images

Tibial nerve Cross-section through Cutaneous nerves of the Diagram of the

middle of left calf right lower extremity. segmental distribution of
Front and posterior views the cutaneous nerves of
the sole of the foot

A schematic of the sacral Tibial nerve Tibial nerve Tibial nerve

plexus with the origin of
the tibial nerve shown
(labeled at the bottom
left)

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l
Krishna, Garg (2010). "Popliteal fossa (Chapter 6)". BD Chaurasia's Human Anatomy
(Regional and Applied Dissection and Clinical) Volume 2 - Lower limb, abdomen, and pelvis (Fifth ed.). India:
CBS Publishers and Distributors Pvt Ltd. p. 86,87,120, 131. ISBN 978-81-239-1864-8.

External links

Tibial nerve at the Duke University Health System's Orthopedics program

Last edited on 7 January 2024, at 18:25

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