Lateral plantar nerve

The lateral plantar nerve is an important motor nerve in the foot because it innervates all intrinsic muscles in the sole, except for the muscles supplied by the medial plantar nerve (abductor hallucis, flexor digitorum brevis, flexor hallucis brevis, and first lumbrical).

Summary

• origin: smaller terminal division of the tibial nerve
• course: 
  • lateral plantar nerve enters the sole of the foot by passing deep to the proximal attachment of the abductor hallucis muscle
  • it continues laterally and anteriorly across the sole between the flexor digitorum brevis and quadratus plantae muscles, supplying branches to both these muscles, and then divides near the head of the 5 metatarsal into deep and superficial branches
• motor supply: abductor digiti minimi, quadratus plantae, 2, 3 and 4lumbricals, adductor hallucis, flexor digiti minimi brevis, dorsal and plantar interossei
• sensory supply: strip of skin on the lateral side of the anterior two-thirds of the sole and the adjacent plantar surfaces of the lateral one and one-half digits