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 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 intermediate dorsal cutaneous nerve). Through its branches, it provides innervation to parts of the dorsal aspects of the first, second, and third toes.

Anatomy

Origin

The

terminates by bifurcating into the medial dorsal cutaneous nerve and the intermediate dorsal cutaneous nerve 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.

Branches and distribution

The medial dorsal cutaneous nerves trifurcates at the inferior border of the ankle, giving rise to: * a medial branch which passes anteromedially before giving rise to the medial dorsal digital nerves of the first toe; * a middle branch which passes anteriorly superficial to the first intermetatarsal space and anastomoses with the

tibial nerve 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. Structure Popliteal fossa The tibial nerve is the larger terminal branch of the sciatic nerve with root val ...

before bifurcating in the distal portion of the intermetatarsal space to give rise to the lateral digital dorsal nerve of the first toe, and the medial digital dorsal nerve of the second toe; * a lateral branch which passes anteriorly superficial to the second intermetatarsal space to give rise to the give rise to the lateral digital dorsal nerve of the second toe, and the medial digital dorsal nerve of the third toe. It also supplies the integument of the medial side of the

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 o ...

and

ankle The ankle, the talocrural region or the jumping bone (informal) is the area where the foot and the leg meet. The ankle includes three joints: the ankle joint proper or talocrural joint, the subtalar joint, and the inferior tibiofibular joint. The ...

Anastomoses

It forms anastomoses with the

saphenous nerve The saphenous nerve (long or internal saphenous nerve) is the largest cutaneous branch of the femoral nerve. It is derived from the lumbar plexus (L3-L4). It is a strictly sensory nerve, and has no motor function. It commences in the proximal (u ...

, and the

deep fibular nerve The deep fibular nerve (also known as deep peroneal nerve) begins at the bifurcation of the common fibular nerve between the fibula and upper part of the fibularis longus, passes infero-medially, deep to the extensor digitorum longus, to the a ...

Additional images

File:Gray826and831.svg, Cutaneous nerves of the right lower extremity. Front and posterior views.

References

External links

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