Sural

Sural nerve is a nerve in the lower leg that plays a key role in the sensation in the foot. It is a sensory nerve, meaning it is responsible for sending signals from the skin to the brain. The sural nerve is a branch of the tibial nerve, which is itself a branch of the sciatic nerve.

Anatomy

The sural nerve is formed by the union of two smaller nerves: the medial sural cutaneous nerve (a branch of the tibial nerve) and the lateral sural cutaneous nerve (a branch of the common peroneal nerve). It runs down the back of the leg, along the outside of the calf muscle, and into the foot.

Function

The sural nerve is a purely sensory nerve, meaning it does not control any muscles. Instead, it carries information about touch, temperature, and pain from the skin on the outside of the calf and foot to the brain. This makes it an important part of the body's ability to sense and respond to the environment.

Clinical significance

Damage to the sural nerve can cause a loss of sensation in the affected area, a condition known as sural neuropathy. This can result from a variety of causes, including injury, surgery, or diseases such as diabetes. In some cases, the sural nerve may be used in a nerve graft, where it is transplanted to another part of the body to repair a damaged nerve.

See also

• Nervous system
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Nerve graft

References

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