The intermediate dorsal cutaneous nerve (external dorsal cutaneous branch) is the smaller and more lateral one of the two terminal branches of the

superficial fibular nerve The superficial fibular nerve (also known as superficial peroneal nerve) is a mixed (motor and sensory) nerve that provides motor innervation to the fibularis longus and fibularis brevis muscles, and sensory innervation to skin over the antero- ...

(the other being the

medial dorsal cutaneous nerve The medial dorsal cutaneous nerve (internal dorsal cutaneous branch) is the more medial one of the two terminal branches of the superficial fibular nerve (the other being the intermediate dorsal cutaneous nerve). Through its branches, it provides ...

). It passes over the third intermetatarsal space before itself bifurcating into two terminal branches: the lateral dorsal digital nerve of the third toe, and the medial dorsal digital nerve of the fourth toe.

Anatomy

Origin

The

terminates by bifurcating into the intermediate dorsal cutaneous nerve and the

immediately after emerging from the

deep fascia of leg The deep fascia of leg or crural fascia forms a complete investment to the muscles, and is fused with the periosteum over the subcutaneous surfaces of the bones. The deep fascia of the leg is continuous above with the fascia lata (deep fascia of ...

at the distal two-thirds to three-fourths point of the leg.

Distribution

Through its two terminal branches, the intermediate dorsal cutaneous nerve provides sensory innervation to the contiguous dorsal aspects of the 3rd and 4th toes, and of the 4th and 5th toes. It also provides innervation to the skin of the lateral side of the foot and ankle.

Anastomoses

It anastomoses with the

sural nerve The sural nerve ''(L4-S1)'' is generally considered a pure cutaneous nerve of the posterolateral leg to the lateral ankle. The sural nerve originates from a combination of either the sural communicating branch and medial sural cutaneous nerve, ...

Variation

Frequently some of the lateral branches of the intermediate dorsal cutaneous nerves are replaced by branches of the lateral dorsal cutaneous nerve.

References

Nerves of the lower limb and lower torso {{Neuroanatomy-stub