The lateral dorsal cutaneous nerve is the continuation/terminal sensory branch of 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, ...

, and is ultimately derived from the 1st sacral nerve (S1). It passes distally along the lateral part of the

dorsum of foot The foot (: feet) is an anatomical structure found in many vertebrates. It is the terminal portion of a limb which bears weight and allows locomotion. In many animals with feet, the foot is an organ at the terminal part of the leg made up of o ...

. It gives rise to the lateral dorsal digital nerve of the 5th toe, and sometimes also the medial dorsal digital nerve of the 5th toe as well as the lateral dorsal digital nerve of the 4th toe (thus replacing branches of the intermediate dorsal cutaneous nerve).

Anatomy

Origin

The sural branch becomes the lateral dorsal cutaneous nerve as it winds around/underneath the lateral malleolus.

Anastomoses

It anastomoses with the intermediate dorsal cutaneous nerve.

Clinical significance

The course of this nerve influences the surgical approach to fixation of fractures of the fifth

metatarsal The metatarsal bones or metatarsus (: metatarsi) are a group of five long bones in the midfoot, located between the tarsal bones (which form the heel and the ankle) and the phalanges ( toes). Lacking individual names, the metatarsal bones are ...

, as the most direct surgical approach is at risk of damaging it.

Additional images

File:Gray825and830.PNG, Cutaneous nerves of the right lower extremity. Front and posterior views.

References

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