Deep Peroneal Nerve, Lateral View

Description

Running along the lateral aspect of the distal leg, the deep fibular (peroneal) nerve is traced as it leaves the common fibular nerve near the fibular neck and enters the anterior compartment, descending on the interosseous membrane between tibialis anterior medially and extensor digitorum longus more laterally. Distally it courses anterior to the ankle joint with the anterior tibial vessels, then divides on the dorsum of the foot into medial and lateral terminal branches. Metatarsals, phalanges, and the tarsal complex (talus and calcaneus) frame the pathway, with the distal tibia and fibula defining the ankle mortise. Small dorsal branches are shown against the skeletal landmarks. Clean relationships. A lateral perspective like this is the one you want when teaching or planning procedures around the anterior ankle and dorsum of the foot, because the deep peroneal nerve becomes superficially vulnerable as it crosses the extensor retinacula and runs adjacent to the dorsalis pedis artery. Entrapment at the anterior tarsal tunnel produces dorsal midfoot pain and paresthesia in the first dorsal web space, and iatrogenic injury remains a concern during ankle arthroscopy portals, external fixation pin placement, and dorsal approaches for tarsometatarsal (Lisfranc) fixation. The motor implications are just as concrete, denervation of extensor hallucis longus and extensor digitorum longus ties directly to weakness of toe extension and altered gait mechanics. Faculty can drop this artwork into lower limb blocks, podiatric anatomy labs, or neuroradiology primers that correlate nerve topography with dorsalis pedis pulse examination and regional anesthesia planning for dorsal foot procedures. Publishers will also find it suited to chapters on common fibular neuropathy and deep peroneal nerve distribution, with the neurilemma and branching pattern rendered for clear labeling. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.