Common peroneal nerve
Latin: Nervus fibularis communis sinistra
Paired structure: one on the left and one on the right side of the body.
View the common peroneal nerve in 3DRoots
L4–S2, the sciatic's smaller terminal division.
Course
Separates from the tibial at the knee's back, follows the biceps femoris tendon to the fibular neck, wraps it subcutaneously, and divides into the superficial (lateral compartment) and deep (anterior compartment) peroneal nerves.
Motor supply
Via its branches — the ankle dorsiflexors and evertors.
Sensory supply
Dorsum of the foot via the superficial branch.
Clinical relevance
The most commonly injured lower-limb nerve — its subcutaneous course against the fibular neck has no muscle shield: crossed-leg pressure, tight plaster casts, prolonged squatting and fibular fractures all cause foot drop. Inversion (tibialis posterior, tibial nerve) is spared — which distinguishes it from an L5 root lesion.
Educational anatomy reference, not medical advice. About this content.