The sural nerve is a purely sensory nerve of the lower leg.
Anatomy
The sural nerve is formed by the union of the medial sural cutaneous nerve, arising from the tibial nerve, and the communicating branch of the fibular nerve cranial to the two heads of the gastrocnemius muscle[^1]. The sural nerve then runs caudally in the groove between the heads of the gastrocnemius muscle and follows the course of the small saphenous vein.
Innervation
The sural nerve supplies the skin on the dorsal aspect of the lower leg extending to the lateral border of the foot.
Clinical relevance
Because of its anatomically easy accessibility and purely sensory function, the sural nerve is often the first choice for a peripheral nerve biopsy.
