Sural nerve

The sural nerve is a cutaneous sensory nerve of the lower limb, primarily formed by the union of the medial sural cutaneous nerve and the lateral sural cutaneous nerve [StatPearls, NBK542204]. It provides sensory innervation to the skin of the lateral foot, lateral malleolus, and the posterolateral aspect of the distal third of the leg [Wikipedia, Sural nerve]. Clinically, the sural nerve is highly significant as a site for nerve conduction studies to evaluate peripheral neuropathies and is the most frequently utilized site for diagnostic nerve biopsies [PubMed, PMID: 28502784]. It is not a molecular target such as a receptor or enzyme; rather, it is an anatomical structure containing various molecular targets like voltage-gated sodium channels which are the actual sites of action for local anesthetics used in nerve blocks [StatPearls, NBK542204]. Pathologies involving the sural nerve include entrapment syndromes and various forms of peripheral neuropathy, including diabetic and vasculitic types [PubMed, PMID: 30891301]. The nerve's superficial location and predictable anatomy make it an ideal candidate for both diagnostic procedures and regional anesthesia in foot and ankle surgery [StatPearls, NBK542204].

Other names

Short saphenous nerve

Local anesthetics block voltage-gated sodium channels on the axons within the sural nerve to prevent depolarization and signal transmission [StatPearls, NBK542204].