Baxter's nerve
The inferior calcaneal nerve (or Baxter nerve) is a mixed nerve in the foot.
Gross anatomy
Origin
Originates from the lateral plantar nerve at the level of the medial malleolus.
Course
Courses between the abductor hallucis muscle and the quadratus plantae and along the medial border of the long plantar ligament. It then turns laterally to send out motor branches to the abductor digiti quinti muscle.
Branches
It sends out small motor branches to the following muscles
- flexor digitorum brevis
- quadratus plantae
- abductor digiti quinti
It also sends sensory fibers to the long plantar ligament and calcaneal periosteum.
It also gives rise to a sensory branch for the anterior calcaneal tubercle.