Corpus: Sural nerve

The sural nerve is a sensory nerve located in the lower leg. It runs caudally within the groove between the gastrocnemius muscle heads.

The sural nerve originates from the union of the medial sural cutaneous nerve (branching from the tibial nerve) and the communicating fibular ramus from the lateral sural cutaneous nerve (derived from the common fibular nerve). Following this union, the nerve comprises 9 to 14 fascicles. It traces the lateral border of the Achilles tendon and continues as the lateral cutaneous nerve along the lateral aspect of the foot.

The sural nerve is responsible for providing sensation to the heel and the lateral border of the foot.

The sural nerve is commonly selected for nerve biopsy, a procedure critical for diagnosing various neuropathies. This involves the surgical removal of approximately 4 to 5 cm of the nerve, facilitated by its accessibility and the minor, sensory-only area it innervates.

Additionally, it serves as a donor site for nerve grafting during the repair of nerve injuries, as its harvest results in minimal sensory loss.