Plantar Nerves: Anatomy, Function, and Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

The medial and lateral plantar nerves are branches of the tibial nerve that go to muscles in the feet.

Nerve Route

• The tibial nerve branches off the sciatic nerve in the upper leg and goes behind the knee to the inside ankle. The tibial nerve then goes through a tunnel and divides into the calcaneal nerve and the medial and lateral plantar nerves.

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

• The plantar nerves, which go through separate tunnels in the foot, are the nerves compressed in tarsal tunnel syndrome, a condition that causes tingling, burning, numbness and pain around the ankle and foot.

Medial Plantar Nerve

• The muscles that the medial plantar nerve serves are the abductor hallucis, flexor hallucis brevis, flexor digitorum brevis and first lumbrical, according to the University of Michigan Medical School.

Lateral Plantar Nerve

• The muscles that the lateral plantar nerve serves are the quadratus plantae, abductor digiti minimi, flexor digiti minimi brevis, outside three lumbricals, adductor hallucis, and plantar and dorsal interossei.

Considerations

• The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons notes that if you have symptoms of compressed plantar nerves, early treatment is important to avoid permanent nerve damage.